Can an Excommunication be lifted POST-MORTEM?

[CyberSaint]

I heard from a relative that another relative had left the Church, married a Protestant, was excommunicated, and died a few years later. His mother apparently paid someone to have the excommunication lifted and the deceased received a Catholic funeral (c. 1970).

Is it possible to rescind an excommunication like that? What about the issue of mortal sin, which presumably was what resulted in the excommunication to begin with?

 

[tee_eff_em]

That seems to me to be an awful lot of “I heard”'s and “they said”'s et cetera.

I suppose someone could determine that an individual had taken steps to restore himself to communion prior to his death, but I’m not sure what the point would be?

:twocents:
tee

 

[Catholic2003]

The excommunications from the Great Schism of 1054 were lifted at Vatican II (or shortly thereafter?), so it can be done.

 

[Magicsilence]

Heretic realise his error and writes a letter to the church, goes to deliver it and is killed on the way back from delivering the letter. He’s dead, but the excommunication must surely be lifted if he repented!

 

[Ani_Ibi]

CyberSaint:

His mother apparently paid someone to have the excommunication lifted and the deceased received a Catholic funeral (c. 1970).

Are you suggesting the way to have an excommunication lifted is to cough up some money? I think it is a question of ascertaining if the person recanted.

 

[CyberSaint]

He did not recant before he died.

I spoke with my priest on this, and he had the following to say:

1. Excommunication is often confused with being barred from Holy Communion, so the facts may be in question here,
2. Excommunication can be lifted post-mortem by a bishop,
3. Acts of Grace can never be bought.

I believe the individual who first brought this up was in error.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut, one and all.