Latae sententia excommunication question

[awc2117]

Last summer, I attended mass (on a thursday night) out of curiosity at an excommunicated, schismatic parish where all members of the community were latae sententiae excommunicated (for ordaining women, blessing gay unions, eucharist for non-catholics —all issues that I respect Church teachings on). I had only recently become a catholic, and, although I knew this particular church and its priest had been excommunicated, a friend of mine was very enthusiastic about the community and asked me to go to mass with him.
At the time, only having recently become a catholic, although I was aware that non-catholics are forbidden from taking eucharist in a catholic church, I did not know that catholics couldn’t participate in communion in a non-catholic church. Up until recently, when I was informed of this rule by my priest, I took communion in protestant churches as well as catholic ones. In a protestant church, though, I wouldn’t take it as the true body and blood of Christ (as I do in a Catholic church), but as symbols of his death. I don’t do this now that I know that it is forbidden.
When attending mass at the excommunicated church, I took communion, treating it as protestant communion (symbolic bread and wine). Without a legitimate priest, no body and blood (this wasn’t the excommunicated priest himself, but a woman that he had ordained through Old Catholics I think). At the time, I was totally ignorant of church teachings specifically against taking communion in a non-catholic church. Nonetheless, I felt uncomfortable about the fact that that church was schismatic, and so went to confession about attending mass there and never went again.
Recently, I was reading about latae sententiae excommunication, and realized that by participating ‘in sacris’ in a community excommunicated in this way, one can be excommunicated. I was not internally participating in this communion as I do in the catholic sacrament, but I did take communion with the rest of them. Was I excommunicated without realizing it, and should I talk to the local bishop to get this all sorted out?

 

[Spirithound]

I think if you were excommunicated, the priest would have either lifted the excommunication himself (if he was deputized to do so), or told you the proper steps to take.

Anyways, welcome home!

 

[Ron_Conte]

Recently, I was reading about latae sententiae excommunication, and realized that by participating ‘in sacris’ in a community excommunicated in this way, one can be excommunicated. I was not internally participating in this communion as I do in the catholic sacrament, but I did take communion with the rest of them. Was I excommunicated without realizing it, and should I talk to the local bishop to get this all sorted out?

You were not excommunicated latae sententiae because you did not realize that your act was prohibited by Canon Law. You don’t need to talk to your Bishop. You can mention it to your confessor at your next confession.

But on another point, a woman cannot be validly ordained as a priest or Bishop, and she cannot validly consecrate the Eucharist. A schismatic priest or Bishop who was at some point in time validly ordained can only validly consecrate the Eucharist if he intends to do what the Church does. It is not certain that schismatic and heretical priests and Bishops have seven valid Sacraments. They might fall progressively into ever worse heresies, eventually no longer intending what the Church intends in one Sacrament or another, or they might try to change the matter or form of the Sacrament.

 

[awc2117]

Thank you, that’s a big relief. God bless you both and happy Feast of the Epiphany