Excommunication/ In Communion

[I_Believe]

How can someone be in communion with Rome if they are excommunicated ?

 

[LilyM]

How can someone be in communion with Rome if they are excommunicated ?

First of all one cannot be both. I presume you’re referring to the SSPX? The Pope did not excommunicate the whole organisation - he only excommunicated some of its Bishops and those who formally adhere to them. THEY of course are well and truly out of communion with Rome.

Not everyone in the SSPX nor everyone who attends their Masses DOES formally adhere to the schism of those handful of Bishops. Those who don’t are possibly not out of communion.

 

[I_Believe]

I presume you’re referring to the SSPX? The Pope did not excommunicate the whole organisation - he only excommunicated some of its Bishops and those who formally adhere to them. Not everyone in the SSPX nor everyone who attends their Masses DOES formally adhere to the schism of those handful of Bishops.

Hi Lily, I’m asking how anyone who is excommunicated can be in communion with Rome ?

I’m getting the feeling that folks think it’s possible. It’s like they are saying, " come into communion with Rome, and THEN, we will talk about lifting the excommunication. I’m no canon lawyer, but, that makes no sense.

Would not one have his/her excommunication lifted, IN ORDER, to return to the Church ?

 

[I_Believe]

Well, you edited while I was replying lol.

 

[LilyM]

Hi Lily, I’m asking how anyone who is excommunicated can be in communion with Rome ?

I’m getting the feeling that folks think it’s possible. It’s like they are saying, " come into communion with Rome, and THEN, we will talk about lifting the excommunication. I’m no canon lawyer, but, that makes no sense.

Would not one have his/her excommunication lifted, IN ORDER, to return to the Church ?

Like I said, the organisation as a whole is NOT excommunicated, just certain individuals within it. The excommunication as a whole is in imperfect communion, though, which is a different thing. And the organisation AS A WHOLE can return to perfect communion with the church without the excommunications of those particular individuals needing ot be lifted.