A Question on Excommunication

[St.Leonard]

Is it the Pope that does it or can Cardinals do it or Archbishops or Bishops?

Is it done by a group of senior clergymen?

Does a priest or bishop have to bring someone forwards to outline their reasons?

To be unexcommunicated to you have to appeal to the Pope or the clergyman that excommunicated you?

 

[Daniel27]

From the CCC:

“[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.”

Also, I think of the two forms of excommunication, one (sententiae ferendae) isn’t automatic; were as the other ( latae sententiae) is automatic.

 

[porthos11]

Is it the Pope that does it or can Cardinals do it or Archbishops or Bishops?

Is it done by a group of senior clergymen?

Does a priest or bishop have to bring someone forwards to outline their reasons?

To be unexcommunicated to you have to appeal to the Pope or the clergyman that excommunicated you?

All about excommunication can be found in the Code of Canon Law.

Some offenses incur automatic excommunication by virtue of the act and the law itself.

Others are explicitly declared or imposed by one’s Bishop.

Others can be imposed or declared by the Pope.

Some execommunications can be lifted by your own pastor or confessor.

Others need recourse to your Bishop.

And others are reserved to the Pope and the Holy See.

 

[1ke]

It depends on the delict.

Canon law governs censures up to and including excommunication.