Has My Relative Been Excommunicated?

[Gorgias]

According to these two sources, my family member has been excommunicated, contrary to what many here have said.

Justin,

No, I don’t see it that way. Are you asserting that your relative is in a state of heresy? In that case, given the definition of ‘divine and catholic faith’ from Vatican I (“All those things are to be believed by divine and Catholic faith which are contained in the written or unwritten word of God, and which are proposed by the Church as divinely revealed, either by a solemn definition or in the exercise of its ordinary and universal Magisterium”), what part of revelation or Catholic dogma is it that you’re asserting that your relative is denying obstinately, in a way that isn’t simply ‘error’ (as noted in can. 1323 #2)?

 

[Aramis]

Only the Pope can excommunicate people so no he is not excommunicated. All he has to do is go to confession and confess his sins with a truely contrite heart. I would be more worried about the state of his soul. It sounds like Satan might be getting to him

Wrong. Every bishop ordinary can, with good cause, issue excommunications. Some excommunications are automatic by the law itself.

See canons 1364 to 1398 for a variety of “latae sentencae” (automatic by the law) excommunications and interdicts.

 

[aemcpa]

Actually, I disagree with you completely. I think the overwhelming majority who are “heretics” are not aware they are heretics and are receiving communion despite being excommunicated. Further, I think MANY, MANY, MANY people are trying to get married in the Church who don’t believe in many central Catholic teachings. I know a lot of people who fall into that category.

And, on top of all of this, I think you are wrong about your “mortal sin” comment. Many people who don’t believe in let’s say papal infallibility or the Church’s position on any number of things aren’t actually engaging in any sin at all but still hold “obstinate” beliefs about them, thus making them heretics. Just because someone thinks abortion is ok does not mean that person is getting abortions or helping others get abortions, for instance.

You are conflating material heresy with formal heresy. And how is it not a sin to obstinately refuse to assent to the Church’s teaching. You might want to look up the definition of “obstinate”.

 

[couponfit]

I have a family relative who had grown up in the Church, is rather educated on what the Church teaches (or at least seems so), and has received many of the sacraments of the Church throughout his or her life, including communion, first reconciliation, baptism, confirmation (I think), marriage, etc…

However, this relative of mine no longer accepts the church’s teaching on papal infallibility, does not believe the pope has been given Divine authority over the whole of the Church (although my family member does not have a problem with papal authority, only that it’s Divinely mandated), has practiced and promoted contraception for himself/herself and for his/her children despite knowing that the Church clearly states it is a sin, and he/she does not believe going to a priest is necessary for the forgiveness of mortal sins. I am sure the list is much longer than that, but I think you get my point.

Now, assuming ignorance is not an issue (I know we can’t know this for sure), has my relative been excommunicated according to canon law and the Church councils? If so, how can he/she come back to the Church?

Thank you for your time…as always!

It sounds to me like you are confessing your friends sins for others to judge. I believe this is something that he must do with a priest.

This part of canon law should answer your question directly.
intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P4V.HTM

 

[L_Marshall]

This is very true. However, it is also important to stress that Excommunication of this manner does not need to be permanent.

Excommunication is never meant to be permanent. New Advent describes it in the following way:

It [Excommunication] is also a medicinal rather than a vindictive penalty, being intended, not so much to punish the culprit, as to correct him and bring him back to the path of righteousness.