The equivalent of this procedure in non-religious courts would be that of a state selecting a court-appointed lawyer--a "public defender"-- chosen by the state to defend a lawyerless individual against charges brought by the state itself.

In a weeding-out process that has known no significant change since the days of the Inquisition, and which were last addressed in its 1971 guidelines, the Roman Catholic Church hopes to appear updated, following public pressures inflamed earlier this year when the Holy See excommunicated a lifelong Sri Lankan priest, Father Tissa Balasuriya. The Southeast Asian priest had written books challenging the Roman Catholic doctrines of Original Sin, the unique role of Jesus Christ as Savior, and the traditional image of the Virgin Mary. (See GayToday Archives, February 4, World news, "Pope Excommunicates Priest for Heresy")

Father Balasuriya, whose diocese catered to an Asian populace to whom Original Sin, a Roman Catholic doctrine that emphasizes depravity as the "natural" human condition at birth, is considered obscene.

Balasuriya's diocese also catered to an area of the world where religious diversity is the norm, and where great religious teachers and "prophets" are regarded as having more equal merit, while organizational claims to the sole possession of religious truth are considered suspect.

The Sri Lankan priest's "heresies" sought to make Roman Catholic teachings palatable to his countrymen. For his efforts, however, he was, according to these same teachings, summarily rewarded by the Pope himself with, perhaps, a choice seat in either Purgatory or in Hell.

On the international stage, the Pope's unilateral action was, earlier this year, heavily critiqued. Thus, to give the impression of more just procedures, persons regarded by the Vatican as having put forth "grave doctrinal errors" will seem to get fairer treatment. A "heretic" so charged may elect an advisor to take part in doctrinal exams and may involve local bishops-- in their struggles. It is unlikely, however, as critics of this procedure explain, that local Bishops would side with a renegade.

Among the chief critics of the new "heresy" guidelines is Father Charles E. Curran, a former Catholic University theology professor who was removed from his post in 1986 following his critiques of Roman Catholic teaching regarding birth control methods and homosexuality.

Father Curran, now teaching courses in human values at Southern Methodist University, says, "The fundamental problems remain. The congregation (the powerful Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith) controls everything: it is lined up to be the judge, the jury, and the experts."

The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith issued an August 29 statement in which it denied Father Curran's view, saying, "It is impossible to accuse of procedure of haste or superficiality."