Heresy - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition heresy

Definition :

Heresy [fr. Gk.], according to Blackstone, consists not in a total denial of Christianity, but in a public and obstinate denial of any of its principal doctrines publicly and obstinately avowed. The 1 Eliz. c. 1 repealed all former statutes relating to heresy, leaving the jurisdiction in cases of heresy as it stood at Common Law; that is, it left the simple offence to be visited by spiritual punishment in the Ecclesiastical Courts, which courts have long since ceased to exercise jurisdiction over laymen. Heresy in the clergy is punishable under the Church Discipline Act as an offence against the laws ecclesiastical, see Noble v. Voysey, (1871) LR 3 PC 357, in which the Rev. Charles Voysey was deprived of his benefice for contradicting many doctrines set forth in the Thirty-nine Articles (see that title). See also APOSTASY; H'RETICO COMBURENDO, DE. Consult Odgers on Libel, 5th Edn. P. 486.

Opinion or doctrine contrary to (usu. catholic) church dogma, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 732.