Excommunication

[Dara]

Hi, I was talking with an anti-catholic friend about Catholicism. Our topic was the Rite of Reconcilliation. His response was, “if God is so forgiving how do you explain excommunication?” I said I would get back with him on that. What is it in entirety? How does it happen? Can they come back after excommunicated?

Thanks!

 

[Rachel126]

Yes, excommunication can be “fixed,” as it were. No one is “Kicked out” of the church permanently, despite the misunderstanding of some about what excommunication is. It is a discipline of the Church, but the Church desires for the person to amend their ways and come back to full communion with the Church. Depending on what the person did, the excommunication can be lifted by a priest in confession, a bishop, or Rome itself. Excommunication does not need to be permanent.

 

[1ke]

“if God is so forgiving how do you explain excommunication?”

I don.t understand the question.

What is it in entirety? How does it happen?

I don’t normally suggest Wikipedia as a source, but their section on Catholic Excommunication is accurate and easy to read and understand.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excommunication

Can they come back after excommunicated?

Of course.

 

[Boulder257]

Do keep in mind that excommunication is a medicinal form used to help someone repent and come back to the Church. It is not a mere punishment for bad behavior.

 

[bzkoss236]

Excommunication is like telling children they can’t have any candy until they say they are sorry for something they’ve done wrong. Once they are sorry, they can have candy again. The candy in this instance being the Sacraments.