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CCC, 817

That they may be one. They are setting us up, you know. If they are going to distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism, a definition is coming. Definitions are great; I think we have a tendency to have our mean-sounding words, rather like trump-cards, and we play them when we feel someone hasn't heard us, or we are threatened. Provided that the terms refer to reality, definitions free us from the tyranny of our passions; a thing is or or not; terms are not to be wielded arbitrarily, or for selfish ends.

In any case, when they say "human sin," they may may refer to our general tendency toward corruption in the Fall, but I'd bet they mean personal sin. That is, there were specific actions taken that wound the Body of Christ. In other words, a specific error has specific actions that characterize it, and we're about to find out about those.

The Church has always taken it personally when there are divisions; that is, we all use the occasions to reflect on our own failure to make the Church the radiant bride she is. It does not mean, however, that those who rent His Body are innocent.
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