Is excommunication the consequence of ALL murder?

[bookworm0812]

Hello, Catholic Answers!

In light of Pope Francis granting the authority to priest to lift an excommunication for the sin of abortion, a question came to mind (BTW, this was the first I’d learned that abortion could not just be forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation!). If someone murders someone (teens or young adults) are they also excommunicated? It seems that they should be. Murder is murder after all, inside or outside the womb. But hasn’t the priest been able to forgive this kind of murder in Reconciliation? Or am I wrong about that? And if a convicted murderer is excommunicated, can a priest now forgive this, too?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Its important to remember what excommunication is. Excommunication is a medicinal penalty of the Church. Its purpose is not necessarily to obtain justice or satisfaction but is meant to awaken an individual’s conscience to repentance (canon 1312 & 1331).

Excommunication is reserved for sins that the Church wants to be sure everyone understands are very serious. In the case of murder, it is practically universally understood to be gravely wrong and thus excommunication is not necessary. In the case of abortion that is obviously not true.