Ad primum ergo dicendum quod contentio, sicut et discordia, habet affinitatem cum invidia quantum ad recessum eius a quo aliquis discordat vel cum quo contendit. Sed quantum ad id in quo sistit ille qui contendit, habet convenientiam cum superbia et inani gloria, inquantum scilicet in proprio sensu statur, ut supra dictum est. Reply Obj. 1: Contention, like discord, is akin to envy insofar as a man severs himself from the one with whom he is discordant, or with whom he contends, but insofar as a contentious man holds to something, it is akin to pride and vainglory, because, to wit, he clings to his own opinion, as stated above (Q. 37, A. 2, ad 1). Ad secundum dicendum quod clamor assumitur in contentione de qua loquimur ad finem impugnandae veritatis. Unde non est principale in contentione. Et ideo non oportet quod contentio ex eodem derivetur ex quo derivatur clamor. Reply Obj. 2: The contention of which we are speaking puts on a loud voice, for the purpose of impugning the truth, so that it is not the chief part of contention. Hence it does not follow that contention arises from the same source as the raising of the voice. Ad tertium dicendum quod superbia et inanis gloria occasionem sumunt praecipue a bonis, etiam sibi contrariis, puta cum de humilitate aliquis superbit, est enim huiusmodi derivatio non per se, sed per accidens, secundum quem modum nihil prohibet contrarium a contrario oriri. Et ideo nihil prohibet ea quae ex superbia vel inani gloria per se et directe oriuntur causari ex contrariis eorum ex quibus occasionaliter superbia oritur. Reply Obj. 3: Pride and vainglory are occasioned chiefly by goods even those that are contrary to them, for instance, when a man is proud of his humility: for when a thing arises in this way, it does so not directly but accidentally, in which way nothing hinders one contrary from arising out of another. Hence there is no reason why the per se and direct effects of pride or vainglory, should not result from the contraries of those things which are the occasion of pride. Quaestio 39 Question 39 De schisma Schism Deinde considerandum est de vitiis oppositis paci pertinentibus ad opus; quae sunt schisma, rixa, seditio et bellum. Primo ergo circa schisma quaeruntur quatuor. We must now consider the vices contrary to peace, which belong to deeds: such are schism, strife, sedition, and war. In the first place, then, about schism, there are four points of inquiry: Primo, utrum schisma sit speciale peccatum. (1) Whether schism is a special sin? Secundo, utrum sit gravius infidelitate. (2) Whether it is graver than unbelief? Tertio, de potestate schismaticorum. (3) Of the power exercised by schismatics; Quarto, de poena eorum. (4) Of the punishment inflicted on them. Articulus 1 Article 1 Utrum schisma sit peccatum speciale Whether schism is a special sin? Ad primum sic proceditur. Videtur quod schisma non sit peccatum speciale. Schisma enim, ut Pelagius Papa dicit, scissuram sonat. Sed omne peccatum scissuram quandam facit, secundum illud Isaiae LIX, peccata vestra diviserunt inter vos et Deum vestrum. Ergo schisma non est speciale peccatum. Objection 1: It would seem that schism is not a special sin. For schism, as Pope Pelagius I says (Epist. ad Victor. et Pancrat.), denotes a division. But every sin causes a division, according to Isa. 59: Your sins have divided between you and your God. Therefore schism is not a special sin. Praeterea, illi videntur esse schismatici qui Ecclesiae non obediunt. Sed per omne peccatum fit homo inobediens praeceptis Ecclesiae, quia peccatum, secundum Ambrosium, est caelestium inobedientia mandatorum. Ergo omne peccatum est schisma. Obj. 2: Further, a man is apparently a schismatic if he disobeys the Church. But every sin makes a man disobey the commandments of the Church, because sin, according to Ambrose (De Parad. viii) is disobedience against the heavenly commandments. Therefore every sin is a schism. Praeterea, haeresis etiam dividit hominem ab unitate fidei. Si ergo schismatis nomen divisionem importat, videtur quod non differat a peccato infidelitatis quasi speciale peccatum. Obj. 3: Further, heresy also divides a man from the unity of faith. If, therefore, the word schism denotes a division, it would seem not to differ, as a special sin, from the sin of unbelief. Sed contra est quod Augustinus, contra Faustum, distinguit inter schisma et haeresim, dicens quod schisma est eadem opinantem atque eodem ritu colentem quo ceteri, solo congregationis delectari dissidio, haeresis vero diversa opinatur ab his quae Catholica credit Ecclesia. Ergo schisma non est generale peccatum. On the contrary, Augustine (Contra Faust. xx, 3; Contra Crescon. ii, 4) distinguishes between schism and heresy, for he says that a schismatic is one who holds the same faith, and practises the same worship, as others, and takes pleasure in the mere disunion of the community, whereas a heretic is one who holds another faith from that of the Catholic Church. Therefore schism is not a generic sin. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut Isidorus dicit, in libro Etymol., nomen schismatis a scissura animorum vocatum est. Scissio autem unitati opponitur. Unde peccatum schismatis dicitur quod directe et per se opponitur unitati, sicut enim in rebus naturalibus id quod est per accidens non constituit speciem, ita etiam nec in rebus moralibus. In quibus id quod est intentum est per se, quod autem sequitur praeter intentionem est quasi per accidens. Et ideo peccatum schismatis proprie est speciale peccatum ex eo quod intendit se ab unitate separare quam caritas facit. Quae non solum alteram personam alteri unit spirituali dilectionis vinculo, sed etiam totam Ecclesiam in unitate spiritus. I answer that, As Isidore says (Etym. viii, 3), schism takes its name from being a scission of minds, and scission is opposed to unity. Wherefore the sin of schism is one that is directly and essentially opposed to unity. For in the moral, as in the physical order, the species is not constituted by that which is accidental. Now, in the moral order, the essential is that which is intended, and that which results beside the intention, is, as it were, accidental. Hence the sin of schism is, properly speaking, a special sin, for the reason that the schismatic intends to sever himself from that unity which is the effect of charity: because charity unites not only one person to another with the bond of spiritual love, but also the whole Church in unity of spirit. Et ideo proprie schismatici dicuntur qui propria sponte et intentione se ab unitate Ecclesiae separant, quae est unitas principalis, nam unitas particularis aliquorum ad invicem ordinatur ad unitatem Ecclesiae, sicut compositio singulorum membrorum in corpore naturali ordinatur ad totius corporis unitatem. Ecclesiae autem unitas in duobus attenditur, scilicet in connexione membrorum Ecclesiae ad invicem, seu communicatione; et iterum in ordine omnium membrorum Ecclesiae ad unum caput; secundum illud ad Coloss. II, inflatus sensu carnis suae, et non tenens caput, ex quo totum corpus, per nexus et coniunctiones subministratum et constructum, crescit in augmentum Dei. Hoc autem caput est ipse Christus, cuius vicem in Ecclesia gerit summus pontifex. Et ideo schismatici dicuntur qui subesse renuunt summo pontifici, et qui membris Ecclesiae ei subiectis communicare recusant. Accordingly schismatics properly so called are those who, wilfully and intentionally separate themselves from the unity of the Church; for this is the chief unity, and the particular unity of several individuals among themselves is subordinate to the unity of the Church, even as the mutual adaptation of each member of a natural body is subordinate to the unity of the whole body. Now the unity of the Church consists in two things; namely, in the mutual connection or communion of the members of the Church, and again in the subordination of all the members of the Church to the one head, according to Col. 2:18, 19: Puffed up by the sense of his flesh, and not holding the Head, from which the whole body, by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and compacted, groweth unto the increase of God. Now this Head is Christ Himself, Whose viceregent in the Church is the Sovereign Pontiff. Wherefore schismatics are those who refuse to submit to the Sovereign Pontiff, and to hold communion with those members of the Church who acknowledge his supremacy. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod divisio hominis a Deo per peccatum non est intenta a peccante, sed praeter intentionem eius accidit ex inordinata conversione ipsius ad commutabile bonum. Et ideo non est schisma, per se loquendo. Reply Obj. 1: The division between man and God that results from sin is not intended by the sinner: it happens beside his intention as a result of his turning inordinately to a mutable good, and so it is not schism properly so called. Ad secundum dicendum quod non obedire praeceptis cum rebellione quadam constituit schismatis rationem. Dico autem cum rebellione, cum et pertinaciter praecepta Ecclesiae contemnit, et iudicium eius subire recusat. Hoc autem non facit quilibet peccator. Unde non omne peccatum est schisma. Reply Obj. 2: The essence of schism consists in rebelliously disobeying the commandments: and I say rebelliously, since a schismatic both obstinately scorns the commandments of the Church, and refuses to submit to her judgment. But every sinner does not do this, wherefore not every sin is a schism. Ad tertium dicendum quod haeresis et schisma distinguuntur secundum ea quibus utrumque per se et directe opponitur. Nam haeresis per se opponitur fidei, schisma autem per se opponitur unitati ecclesiasticae caritatis. Et ideo sicut fides et caritas sunt diversae virtutes, quamvis quicumque careat fide careat caritate; ita etiam schisma et haeresis sunt diversa vitia, quamvis quicumque est haereticus sit etiam schismaticus, sed non convertitur. Et hoc est quod Hieronymus dicit, in Epist. ad Gal., inter schisma et haeresim hoc interesse arbitror, quod haeresis perversum dogma habet, schisma ab Ecclesia separat. Et tamen sicut amissio caritatis est via ad amittendum fidem, secundum illud I ad Tim. I, a quibus quidam aberrantes, scilicet a caritate et aliis huiusmodi, conversi sunt in vaniloquium; ita etiam schisma est via ad haeresim. Unde Hieronymus ibidem subdit quod schisma a principio aliqua in parte potest intelligi diversum ab haeresi, ceterum nullum schisma est, nisi sibi aliquam haeresim confingat, ut recte ab Ecclesia recessisse videatur. Reply Obj. 3: Heresy and schism are distinguished in respect of those things to which each is opposed essentially and directly. For heresy is essentially opposed to faith, while schism is essentially opposed to the unity of ecclesiastical charity. Wherefore just as faith and charity are different virtues, although whoever lacks faith lacks charity, so too schism and heresy are different vices, although whoever is a heretic is also a schismatic, but not conversely. This is what Jerome says in his commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians: I consider the difference between schism and heresy to be that heresy holds false doctrine while schism severs a man from the Church. Nevertheless, just as the loss of charity is the road to the loss of faith, according to 1 Tim. 1:6: From which things, i.e., charity and the like, some going astray, are turned aside into vain babbling, so too, schism is the road to heresy. Wherefore Jerome adds (In Ep. ad Tit. iii, 10) that at the outset it is possible, in a certain respect, to find a difference between schism and heresy: yet there is no schism that does not devise some heresy for itself, that it may appear to have had a reason for separating from the Church. Articulus 2 Article 2 Utrum schisma gravius peccatum sit quam infidelitas Whether schism is a graver sin than unbelief? Ad secundum sic proceditur. Videtur quod schisma gravius peccatum sit quam infidelitas. Maius enim peccatum graviori poena punitur, secundum illud Deut. XXV, pro mensura peccati erit et plagarum modus. Sed peccatum schismatis gravius invenitur punitum quam etiam peccatum infidelitatis sive idololatriae. Legitur enim Exod. XXXII quod propter idololatriam sunt aliqui humana manu gladio interfecti, de peccato autem schismatis legitur Num. XVI, si novam rem fecerit dominus, ut aperiens terra os suum deglutiat eos et omnia quae ad illos pertinent, descenderintque viventes in Infernum, scietis quod blasphemaverunt dominum. Decem etiam tribus, quae vitio schismatis a regno David recesserunt, sunt gravissime punitae, ut habetur IV Reg. XVII. Ergo peccatum schismatis est gravius peccato infidelitatis. Objection 1: It would seem that schism is a graver sin than unbelief. For the graver sin meets with a graver punishment, according to Deut. 25:2: According to the measure of the sin shall the measure also of the stripes be. Now we find the sin of schism punished more severely than even the sin of unbelief or idolatry: for we read (Exod 32:28) that some were slain by the swords of their fellow men on account of idolatry: whereas of the sin of schism we read (Num 16:30): If the Lord do a new thing, and the earth opening her mouth swallow them down, and all things that belong to them, and they go down alive into hell, you shall know that they have blasphemed the Lord God. Moreover the ten tribes who were guilty of schism in revolting from the rule of David were most severely punished (4 Kgs 17). Therefore the sin of schism is graver than the sin of unbelief. Praeterea, bonum multitudinis est maius et divinius quam bonum unius; ut patet per philosophum, in I Ethic. Sed schisma est contra bonum multitudinis, idest contra ecclesiasticam unitatem, infidelitas autem est contra bonum particulare unius, quod est fides unius hominis singularis. Ergo videtur quod schisma sit gravius peccatum quam infidelitas. Obj. 2: Further, The good of the multitude is greater and more godlike than the good of the individual, as the Philosopher states (Ethic. i, 2). Now schism is opposed to the good of the multitude, namely, ecclesiastical unity, whereas unbelief is contrary to the particular good of one man, namely the faith of an individual. Therefore it seems that schism is a graver sin than unbelief. Praeterea, maiori malo maius bonum opponitur; ut patet per philosophum, in VIII Ethic. Sed schisma opponitur caritati, quae est maior virtus quam fides, cui opponitur infidelitas, ut ex praemissis patet. Ergo schisma est gravius peccatum quam infidelitas. Obj. 3: Further, a greater good is opposed to a greater evil, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. viii, 10). Now schism is opposed to charity, which is a greater virtue than faith to which unbelief is opposed, as shown above (Q. 10, A. 2; Q. 23, A. 6). Therefore schism is a graver sin than unbelief. Sed contra, quod se habet ex additione ad alterum potius est vel in bono vel in malo. Sed haeresis se habet per additionem ad schisma, addit enim perversum dogma, ut patet ex auctoritate Hieronymi supra inducta. Ergo schisma est minus peccatum quam infidelitas. On the contrary, That which results from an addition to something else surpasses that thing either in good or in evil. Now heresy results from something being added to schism, for it adds corrupt doctrine, as Jerome declares in the passage quoted above (A. 1, ad 3). Therefore schism is a less grievous sin than unbelief. Respondeo dicendum quod gravitas peccati dupliciter potest considerari, uno modo, secundum suam speciem; alio modo, secundum circumstantias. Et quia circumstantiae particulares sunt et infinitis modis variari possunt, cum quaeritur in communi de duobus peccatis quod sit gravius, intelligenda est quaestio de gravitate quae attenditur secundum genus peccati. Genus autem seu species peccati attenditur ex obiecto; sicut ex supradictis patet. Et ideo illud peccatum quod maiori bono contrariatur est ex suo genere gravius, sicut peccatum in Deum quam peccatum in proximum. I answer that, The gravity of a sin can be considered in two ways: first, according to the species of that sin, second, according to its circumstances. And since particular circumstances are infinite in number, so too they can be varied in an infinite number of ways: wherefore if one were to ask in general which of two sins is the graver, the question must be understood to refer to the gravity derived from the sin’s genus. Now the genus or species of a sin is taken from its object, as shown above (I-II, Q. 72, A. 1; I-II, Q. 73, A. 3). Wherefore the sin which is opposed to the greater good is, in respect of its genus, more grievous, for instance a sin committed against God is graver than a sin committed against one’s neighbor. Manifestum est autem quod infidelitas est peccatum contra ipsum Deum, secundum quod in se est veritas prima, cui fides innititur. Schisma autem est contra ecclesiasticam unitatem, quae est quoddam bonum participatum, et minus quam sit ipse Deus. Unde manifestum est quod peccatum infidelitatis ex suo genere est gravius quam peccatum schismatis, licet possit contingere quod aliquis schismaticus gravius peccet quam quidam infidelis, vel propter maiorem contemptum, vel propter maius periculum quod inducit, vel propter aliquid huiusmodi. Now it is evident that unbelief is a sin committed against God Himself, according as He is Himself the First Truth, on which faith is founded; whereas schism is opposed to ecclesiastical unity, which is a participated good, and a lesser good than God Himself. Wherefore it is manifest that the sin of unbelief is generically more grievous than the sin of schism, although it may happen that a particular schismatic sins more grievously than a particular unbeliever, either because his contempt is greater, or because his sin is a source of greater danger, or for some similar reason. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod populo illi manifestum erat iam per legem susceptam quod erat unus Deus et quod non erant alii dii colendi, et hoc erat apud eos per multiplicia signa confirmatum. Et ideo non oportebat quod peccantes contra hanc fidem per idololatriam punirentur inusitata aliqua et insolita poena, sed solum communi. Sed non erat sic notum apud eos quod Moyses deberet esse semper eorum princeps. Et ideo rebellantes eius principatui oportebat miraculosa et insueta poena puniri. Reply Obj. 1: It had already been declared to that people by the law which they had received that there was one God, and that no other God was to be worshipped by them; and the same had been confirmed among them by many kinds of signs. Consequently there was no need for those who sinned against this faith by falling into idolatry, to be punished in an unwonted manner: it was enough that they should be punished in the usual way. On the other hand, it was not so well known among them that Moses was always to be their ruler, and so it behooved those who rebelled against his authority to be punished in a miraculous and unwonted manner. Vel potest dici quod peccatum schismatis quandoque gravius est punitum in populo illo quia erat ad seditiones et schismata promptus, dicitur enim I Esdr. IV, civitas illa a diebus antiquis adversus regem rebellat, et seditiones et praelia concitantur in ea. Poena autem maior quandoque infligitur pro peccato magis consueto, ut supra habitum est, nam poenae sunt medicinae quaedam ad arcendum homines a peccato; unde ubi est maior pronitas ad peccandum, debet severior poena adhiberi. Decem autem tribus non solum fuerunt punitae pro peccato schismatis, sed etiam pro peccato idololatriae, ut ibidem dicitur. We may also reply by saying that the sin of schism was sometimes more severely punished in that people, because they were inclined to seditions and schisms. For it is written (1 Esdra 4:15): This city since days gone by has rebelled against its kings: and seditions and wars were raised therein. Now sometimes a more severe punishment is inflicted for an habitual sin (as stated above, I-II, Q. 105, A. 2, ad 9), because punishments are medicines intended to keep man away from sin: so that where there is greater proneness to sin, a more severe punishment ought to be inflicted. As regards the ten tribes, they were punished not only for the sin of schism, but also for that of idolatry as stated in the passage quoted. Ad secundum dicendum quod sicut bonum multitudinis est maius quam bonum unius qui est de multitudine, ita est minus quam bonum extrinsecum ad quod multitudo ordinatur, sicut bonum ordinis exercitus est minus quam bonum ducis. Et similiter bonum ecclesiasticae unitatis, cui opponitur schisma, est minus quam bonum veritatis divinae, cui opponitur infidelitas. Reply Obj. 2: Just as the good of the multitude is greater than the good of a unit in that multitude, so is it less than the extrinsic good to which that multitude is directed, even as the good of a rank in the army is less than the good of the commander-in-chief. In like manner the good of ecclesiastical unity, to which schism is opposed, is less than the good of Divine truth, to which unbelief is opposed. Ad tertium dicendum quod caritas habet duo obiecta, unum principale, scilicet bonitatem divinam; et aliud secundarium, scilicet bonum proximi. Schisma autem et alia peccata quae fiunt in proximum opponuntur caritati quantum ad secundarium bonum, quod est minus quam obiectum fidei, quod est ipse Deus. Et ideo ista peccata sunt minora quam infidelitas. Sed odium Dei, quod opponitur caritati quantum ad principale obiectum, non est minus. Tamen inter peccata quae sunt in proximum, peccatum schismatis videtur esse maximum, quia est contra spirituale bonum multitudinis. Reply Obj. 3: Charity has two objects; one is its principal object and is the Divine goodness, the other is its secondary object and is our neighbor’s good. Now schism and other sins against our neighbor, are opposed to charity in respect of its secondary good, which is less than the object of faith, for this is God Himself; and so these sins are less grievous than unbelief. On the other hand, hatred of God, which is opposed to charity in respect of its principal object, is not less grievous than unbelief. Nevertheless of all sins committed by man against his neighbor, the sin of schism would seem to be the greatest, because it is opposed to the spiritual good of the multitude. Articulus 3 Article 3 Utrum schismatici habeant aliquam potestatem Whether schismatics have any power? Ad tertium sic proceditur. Videtur quod schismatici habeant aliquam potestatem. Dicit enim Augustinus, in libro contra Donatist., sicut redeuntes ad Ecclesiam qui priusquam recederent baptizati sunt non rebaptizantur, ita redeuntes qui priusquam recederent ordinati sunt non utique rursus ordinantur. Sed ordo est potestas quaedam. Ergo schismatici habent aliquam potestatem, quia retinent ordinem. Objection 1: It would seem that schismatics have some power. For Augustine says (Contra Donat. i, 1): Just as those who come back to the Church after being baptized, are not baptized again, so those who return after being ordained, are not ordained again. Now Order is a kind of power. Therefore schismatics have some power since they retain their Orders.