Excommunication Question

[Mattjolley]

Hi,
Whilst reading through the catechism today, I came across this passage:

“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.”

This seems rather extreme, so what would somebody have to have done, to warrant this awful punishment?

It saddens me to think that some people could be faced with this, thereby throwing away the gift of the church and her sacraments, thrugh their selfish and evil acts/sins I’d never want to be in that situation, thank God most of us arent, eh? Prays for those who are

Matt

 

[tee_eff_em]

Perhaps among others, these are the offenses enumerated in Canon Law:

Can. 1364 §1 An apostate from the faith, a heretic or a schismatic incurs a latae sententiae excommunication, without prejudice to the provision of Can. 194 §1, n. 2; a cleric, moreover, may be punished with the penalties mentioned in Can. 1336 §1, nn. 1, 2 and 3.
§2 If a longstanding contempt or the gravity of scandal calls for it, other penalties may be added, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state.

Can. 1367 One who throws away the consecrated species or, for a sacrilegious purpose, takes them away or keeps them, incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; a cleric, moreover, may be punished with some other penalty, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state.

Can. 1370 §1 A person who uses physical force against the Roman Pontiff incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; if the offender is a cleric, another penalty, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state, may be added according to the gravity of the crime.

Can. 1378 §1 A priest who acts against the prescription of Can. 977 incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.
§2 The following incur a latae sententiae interdict or, if a cleric, a latae sententiae suspension:
1° a person who, not being an ordained priest, attempts to celebrate Mass
2° a person who, apart from the case mentioned in §1, thoughunable to give valid sacramental absolution, attempts to do so, or hears a sacramental confession.
§3 In the cases mentioned in §2, other penalties, not excluding excommunication, can be added, according to the gravity of the offence.

(cf. Can. 977 The absolution of a partner in a sin against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue is invalid, except in danger of death. )

Can. 1382 Both the Bishop who, without a pontifical mandate, consecrates a person a Bishop, and the one who receives the consecration from him, incur a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.

Can. 1388 §1 A confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal, incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; he who does so only indirectly is to be punished according to the gravity of the offence.
§2 Interpreters and the others mentioned in can. 983 §2, who violate the secret, are to be punished with a just penalty, not excluding excommunication.

Can. 1398 A person who actually procures an abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.

tee
Disclaimer: I Am Not A Canon Lawyer

 

[tee_eff_em]

NB: All those listed above are *latae sententiae *-- The penalty is imposed by the law itself.

There are other offenses enumerated in Canon Law which prescribe “a just penalty” which, if the offense is grave, may be excommunication. These, however, would be *ferendae sentetiae *-- The penalty needs be passed by a tribunal or other authority.

tee
I Am Not A Canon Lawyer

 

[DL82]

I thought they didn’t do “ferendae sentetiae” excommunications anymore.

Certainly, the original form, the closing of the book, ringing of a bell and snuffing out of a candle, with the words “Maledicat Dominus et omnes sanctos” - “May they be cursed by the Lord and all His saints”, has been removed from use.

 

[Belle10]

Hi tee_eff_em, I’m Belle

I just read your “Homestyle Catholic” and I love it! God bless!

 

[tee_eff_em]

I thought they didn’t do “ferendae sentetiae” excommunications anymore.

I couldn’t say. I Am Not A Canon Lawyer

The cases I am most familiar with generally fall under Canon 1364, but were made to seem more *ferendae *by repeated public warnings to the offender(s) before their commision of schismatic acts.

When Bishop Bruskewitz(sp?) excommunicated members of several groups a couple of years ago, did they likewise fall under 1364, or were there other circumstances?

tee

 

[Genesis315]

I thought they didn’t do “ferendae sentetiae” excommunications anymore.

Certainly, the original form, the closing of the book, ringing of a bell and snuffing out of a candle, with the words “Maledicat Dominus et omnes sanctos” - “May they be cursed by the Lord and all His saints”, has been removed from use.

If I am not mistaken that was reserved for the most serious excommunications, the anathema. The distinction between the two has since been removed, since they are essentially the same punishment–separation from the Church.