How are Excommunication Cases Solved?

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Inquiringperson

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I know only a Bishop can lift an excommunication along with priests deputed with the power to absolve excommunication, but how does an excommunicated person get back in the Church? Do they make an appointment with the Bishop?

Note: I am not excommunicated. This question has been bothering me for the past several months of my life.
 
In cases of automatic excommunication, such as abortion or defecting from the faith, etc., the person would go to their priest in sacramental confession. If the priest needs to involve the bishop, he will.

In the case of some sort of censure or canonical penalty imposed by the bishop, for example someone formally censured or excommunicated for some public action, writing, etc, then they would likely approach their bishop directly. One would call the bishop’s office for an appointment or write to the bishop.
 
Inquiringperson said:
I know only a Bishop can lift an excommunication along with priests deputed with the power to absolve excommunication, but how does an excommunicated person get back in the Church? Do they make an appointment with the Bishop?

Note: I am not excommunicated. This question has been bothering me for the past several months of my life.
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They are usually solved by the repentance of the excommunicate.
 
1ke said:
In cases of automatic excommunication, such as abortion or defecting from the faith, etc., the person would go to their priest in sacramental confession. If the priest needs to involve the bishop, he will.

In the case of some sort of censure or canonical penalty imposed by the bishop, for example someone formally censured or excommunicated for some public action, writing, etc, then they would likely approach their bishop directly. One would call the bishop’s office for an appointment or write to the bishop.
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Why would a priest involve the Bishop? Won’t that be violating the Seal?
 
1ke said:
If the priest does not have the faculties to lift the excommunication then he will refer the case to the bishop.
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Will the Bishop give the priest the faculties to lift the excommunication?
 
Spirithound said:
I have read posts from others on this forum, and it seems that the priest would inform the bishop without revealing the person’s name, and then schedule an appointment with the person.
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Who would schedule the appointment? The Bishop or the Priest?
 
Inquiringperson said:
Why would a priest involve the Bishop? Won’t that be violating the Seal?
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It wasn’t too long ago that EVERY person confessing abortion (having, performing, facilitating) had to wait for their confessor to “take” the sin to the local ordinary. The person would not expose who they were if they didn’t want to. I don’t know what exactly would transpire between the bishop and the priest.
 
Inquiringperson said:
Who would schedule the appointment? The Bishop or the Priest?
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If the penitent is to remain within the original seal of the confessional, then the final meeting would be between the penitent and the priest. But, I was also under the impression that there was a uniform way of dealing with it, so I defer to 1ke’s comment 🙂
 
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