Pope Stephen III On Anathema

An error promoted by certain representatives of the Vatican II Sect concerns the meaning of anathema.  Vatican II Sect member Jimmy Akin made a number of false claims on this matter, including his assertion that anathema does not mean damned by God.  Being under an anathema does not mean that a person cannot possibly repent and convert, but a person who is anathematized is condemned by God and will be ultimately damned unless he or she converts.  Indeed, here’s an interesting quote from Pope Stephen III who correctly teaches that anathema means that a person will be damned by God (unless he or she repents).

Pope Stephen III, To Charles and Carloman (Codex Epistolaris Carolinus 45), AD c. 769: “If anyone, contrary to our wishes, presumes to act against this our solemn and earnest exhortation, may he know that by the authority of my master the blessed Peter prince of the apostles he is bound with the bond of an anathema, excluded from the kingdom of God, and consigned to eternal fire together with the devil and his cruel pomps and all the impious.”

Akin also made the false claim that anathema only refers to a ceremonial excommunication pronounced by a bishop, not an automatic penalty or condemnation that strikes those who deny dogmatic teaching.  But that’s also wrong.  His claim is refuted by Pope Stephen III’s statement above, which clearly refers to an automatic penalty.  It’s also refuted by other papal pronouncements (including statements in the Council of Trent), as we covered here: Anathema – Jimmy Akin Gets It Wrong.