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by JP1967 on November 22nd, 2003

JP1967

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Does the Catholic Church still excommunicate people?

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  • by Ignatius on December 24th, 2005

    Ignatius

    From The Catechism of the Catholic Church:

    1463 Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication, the most severe ecclesiastical penalty, which impedes the reception of the sacraments and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts, and for which absolution consequently cannot be granted, according to canon law, except by the Pope, the bishop of the place or priests authorized by them. In danger of death any priest, even if deprived of faculties for hearing confessions, can absolve from every sin and excommunication.

    2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae," "by the very commission of the offense," and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

    http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a5.htm#2272

    2322 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3), gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life.

    Most excommunications are done by the person themselves since they have knowingly done something that incurs that penalty. I think that most excommunications can be handled by a good confession, though there are some that do require intervention by the local Bishop or even the Pope .

    Karl Keating says:"Excommunication is a medicinal remedy, sort of a spiritual chemotherapy. Its purpose is not to reduce the population of the Church by one but to bring a confused soul back to his senses. When applied against a public figure, excommunication can be good for him and good for the public—even good for the Church as a whole, since many people will want to join an institution that is strong in its principles and does not seem to mind taking flak."
    http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0409fr.asp

    Also, this article on "Anathema".
    http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2000/0004chap.asp

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