[James Aldrich]

Greetings Markus,

Since you ask and because I was not clear in my references, I will continue in the discussion. I did indeed go to external links originating from http://www.catholic.com, specifically to this page:
http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/search.asp

If you select Any Forum, Any Expert, Forever, and enter Mel Gibson for keywords, you will find three pages of Q&A. It was mainly from this that I formed the opinion that the question of Mel Gibson's "Catholicity" is not settled in the minds of Catholic apologists.

On Google, I believe I found the most results by entering <Mel Gibson Holy Family> There I found references to several secular treatments of the issue.

Regarding the rejection of belief in Transubstantiation in the Novus Ordo, you are correct in saying that goes to the heart of being Roman Catholic. If, as has been reported, Mel Gibson has stated his belief as such, my opinion would be that he has separated himself from the Church.

Jeremy is also correct that there are conditions under which one can separate himself from the Church by his actions and beliefs. Where we differ is in my opinion that one should not, indeed cannot, authoritatively discern another's relationship to the Church, even in the presence of what appears to be evidence of schism, apostasy, or heresy. I believe that matter to be between the individual and the hierarchy of the Church until such time as a competent ecclesiastic authority declares otherwise. And if for no other reason than courtesy, I would never declare a person schismatic or excommunicate in the absence of an authoritative pronouncement.

I hope this analogy will clarify my position: In the teaching of the Church, there is a clear definition of what constitutes mortal sin. The act [or omission] must be objectively and gravely immoral, the sinner must be aware of this, and he must act of his own free will. By these conditions I know when I have committed a mortal sin, but by the same conditions I can never know with certainty that someone else has committed a mortal sin. If I see Francis X. Pewfiller walk up to my mother and shoot her dead, I cannot, in spite of overwhelming evidence, declare with any authority that he has committed mortal sin.

So although there is a great weight of apparent evidence to suggest that Mel Gibson is in schism from the Church to which I belong, I will continue to reserve judgment until the Church speaks with authority.

And since Jeremy suggested drinks, I'll have a pint of Newcastle Brown.

Peace.
JSA[/i]

[Taylor Ellis]

[James Aldrich]

[Robert W. Betten]