Heresy

 BASIC R.C.BELIEF

A formal denial or doubt by any baptizedof any revealed truth of the Roman Catholic faith. Heretics are automatically excommunicated. All distinctively Protestant teachings are heresies.

From BRIEF AND SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM, R.P. Angel Maria de Arcos, S.J., "The moment any man publicly professes heresy, and attempts to pervert others by word or example, he cannot only, absolutely speaking, be excommunicated but even justly slain, lest by his pestilent contagion he ruin very many others."

POST VATICAN II

With the new ecumenical friendliness, Roman Catholics now refer to Protestants as separated brethren, not heretics. The late Dr. David DuPlessis termed this "a wonderful act of forgiveness by the Holy Father" (Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA, June 2, 1979).