Conversion to the Catholic Faith and Excommunication

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fugadux

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Hello!

I am a convert to the Catholic Faith, being batized validly in the local Lutheran denomination as an infant, then going through an atheist period and then going through the Lutheran denomination on my way to the Catholic Faith. I started attending Holy Mass in 2008 and was received fully into the Catholic Church on Easter Day 2009. There has been something troubling me from time to time and that is whether or not I need to seek release from the censure of excommunication for my previous apostasy and heresy. I’ve talked to my spiritual director about it and he said I didn’t need it, that it was taken care off in my general Confession, but I want to be certain. The sins of apostasy, schism and heresy are censured with automatic excommunication, and I don’t want to be lost on account of not being released from such a censure.

In Christ, through Mary,
David
 
Your spiritual director is correct and I was told the same thing when I asked the same question to mine (I’m a convert from Anglicanism). Excommunication can only happen to Catholics. As a Lutheran or an atheist, you were not bound by Canon Law.
 
fugadux said:
Hello!

I am a convert to the Catholic Faith, being batized validly in the local Lutheran denomination as an infant, then going through an atheist period and then going through the Lutheran denomination on my way to the Catholic Faith. I started attending Holy Mass in 2008 and was received fully into the Catholic Church on Easter Day 2009. There has been something troubling me from time to time and that is whether or not I need to seek release from the censure of excommunication for my previous apostasy and heresy. I’ve talked to my spiritual director about it and he said I didn’t need it, that it was taken care off in my general Confession, but I want to be certain. The sins of apostasy, schism and heresy are censured with automatic excommunication, and I don’t want to be lost on account of not being released from such a censure.

In Christ, through Mary,
David
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One cannot be an apostate or a heretic unless one were Catholic. You cannot be excommunicated unless you are a Catholic. None of the canons on this topic applied to you as a Lutheran.

You were never a Catholic, and therefore did not apostacize or commit heresy. The Church teaches those born into non-Catholic ecclesial communities are not guilty of the sin of heresy.

Listen to your priest.
 
Ditto the above answers

In order for you to have sinned through heresy you need to move [ufrom Truth TO error.

In your case you moved from error INTO truth.

The advice you were given is sound.

Turn your fears of failure into Songs of praise and thanksgiving.

Peace
James
 
Thank you for the responses. I have been living as though my spiritual director instructed me correctly, since I have not abstained from receiving the Sacraments, but it was good to get some further clarifications.
 
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