He admonished the Corinthians for not removing the offender from their midst. Note, however, that St. Paul also expressed hope. Nevertheless, until such time, the obstinate sinner had to be removed to prevent both the infection of the rest of the believers and the appearance of condoning such a sinful action.
Later, excommunication became clearly associated with the Sacrament of Penance. At this time, the Sacrament of Penance was generally received once. Seeking forgiveness, serious sinners presented themselves to the bishop, who assigned them to a class of penitents ordo paenitentium. Some may say that your karma can not be redeemed from committing the five grave offenses — these are matricide, patricide, killing an arhat, shedding the blood of a Buddha, and destroying a religious community.
Others say the 10 transgressions cannot be redeemed — killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying; slander, coarse language, empty chatter, covetousness, angry speech, wrong views. But all seems way too narrow. Others teach that the three submissions make enlightenment impossible. In truth, ultimately, there is no reason any being would be excluded from the path to enlightenment. Over 10 kalpas ago the Buddha Amida specifically vowed to save even the unsavable, to teach the unteachable, and to love the unlovable.
Micheal L. One common reason for excommunication is moral turpitude. The bishop or stake president oversees membership restrictions or withdrawals with love and compassion for the individual. These actions are sometimes necessary to help a person repent and experience a change of heart. They also give a person time to prepare spiritually to renew and keep his or her covenants again.
The purposes of church membership restrictions or withdrawals are:. Turning it over was what mattered. A step group might insist someone disruptive leave a meeting; but that stray sheep would always be welcomed back to the fold. In fact, so rare is such an occurrence that I am unaware of an instance where this has happened in the year history of our congregation.
Nor do I know of an example from another congregation. Ecclesiastical authority has the right to posit certain conditions for the return of the culprit, and every absolution from excommunication calls for the fulfilment of certain conditions which vary in severity, according to the case.
Excommunication, it must be remembered, is a medicinal penalty intended, above all, for the correction of the culprit; therefore his first duty is to solicit pardon by showing an inclination to obey the orders given him, just as it is the duty of ecclesiastical authority to receive back the sinner as soon as he repents and declares himself disposed to give the required satisfaction.
This satisfaction is often indicated in the law itself; for instance, usurpers of ecclesiastical property are excommunicated until such time as they make restitution Council of Trent, Sess. XXII, c. Besides expiatory practices habitually known as "penance", such satisfaction exacts opportune measures for the reparation of the past, as well as guarantees for the future. It is not always necessary that these measures be executed prior to absolution , which is frequently granted on the solemn promise of the excommunicated party either to accomplish a specified act, such as coming to an agreement with the Church for the property usurped, or simply to abide by the orders of ecclesiastical authority standi mandatis ecclesi.
In such cases absolution is not unusually given under pain of "reincidence" ad reincidentiam , i. However, this clause of reincidence is not to be presumed; when occasion requires, it is inserted in the sentence of absolution or in the indult granted for that purpose.
The formula of absolution from excommunication is not strictly determined, and, since it is an act of jurisdiction , it suffices if the formula employed express clearly the effect which it is desired to attain.
The formula for remitting the excommunication in foro externo should be such as to absolve validly from public excommunication. Similarly, an excommunication imposed by judicial sentence is to be revoked by an absolution in the same form; occult excommunication may be revoked in the confessional by the sacramental formula.
The Roman Ritual tit. LII, c. Who can absolve from excommunication? The answer is given in the customary rules of jurisdiction. The right to absolve evidently belongs to him who can excommunicate and who has imposed the law , moreover to any person delegated by him to this effect, since this power, being jurisdictional, can be delegated.
First, we must distinguish between excommunication ab homine, which is judicial, and excommunication a jure, i. For the former, absolution is given by the judge who inflicted the penalty or by his successor , in other words by the pope , or the bishop ordinary , also by the superior of said judge when acting as judge of appeal.
Ordinary power is determined by the law itself, which indicates to what authority the censure is reserved in each case. Delegated power is of two kinds: that granted in permanency and set down in the law and that granted or communicated by personal act, e. Of this second kind of delegation there is no need to speak, as it belongs to each one to verify the power faculties that he possesses.
Delegation of the first kind carries with it the power to absolve from excommunication without special request or particular faculties. Such power is in this case conferred by the law itself. Nevertheless this power is subject to the general law that governs delegation and is valid only for the cases and under the conditions mentioned in the concession.
Thus faculties granted for the forum internum cannot be extended to the forum externum, nor can those granted for specially reserved excommunications be used for simply reserved cases, and so on. However, the faculties proceeding from both kinds of delegation may be "cumulated", i. These principles admitted, we must remember that with reference to reservation or the right to absolve, excommunications are divided into four classes: excommunications specially reserved to the pope ; excommunications simply reserved to the pope ; excommunications reserved to the bishop ordinary ; and, finally, excommunications that are not reserved nemini reservat.
According to this classification, as a general rule, only the pope can absolve from the first two kinds of excommunication, although his power extends to the others; bishops ordinaries , but not other priests , can remove excommunications of the third class; finally, those of the fourth class, and those only, can be revoked by any approved priest , without further special delegation. At this point, however, must be considered certain concessions of the law that may be grouped in three categories: the permanent faculties of bishops ; concessions for urgent cases; and concessions for the point of death.
The faculties of bishops The Council of Trent Sess. XXIV, c. They can exercise this power either in person or through a special delegate of their choice, but in the tribunal of conscience only. On the other hand, the indults they receive are more or less liberal and widely communicable. Urgent cases In the chapter "Nuper" xxix, de sent. But most authors carried the analogy still further: for him who is prevented from presenting himself to the bishop , the excommunication may be removed by any confessor.
In regard to the obligation of submitting to the orders of the pope or the bishop , the moralists and canonists generally taught as follows: First, no one was obliged to apply in writing correct as to the removal of excommunication, though Innocent III says nothing of this kind concerning a request for information.
Then they distinguished between obstacles that were more or less prolonged: perpetual obstacles were such as exceed five years; obstacles of long duration were those lasting over six months; and obstacles of short duration, those continuing for less than six months. When the obstacle was perpetual the bishop or, if he could not be reached, any priest might absolve without appealing to the superior; this could also be done, but not without obligation of recourse to the superior on the cessation of the obstacle, when the latter was of long duration, provided there were urgency.
Finally, the authors drew up a long list of those who were supposed to be unable to present themselves in person to the pope ; and this list included almost every one Gury , Theol. Moralis, II, nn. This practice, far more lenient than was intended by Innocent III , has been recently profoundly modified by a decree of the Congregation of the Inquisition Holy Office dated 23 June, Henceforth "in urgent cases when absolution cannot be deferred without danger of grave scandal or infamy , which is left to the conscientious appreciation of the confessor, the latter, after having imposed the necessary satisfaction, can absolve, without other faculties, from all censure; even those specially reserved to the Holy See , but under pain or reincidence under the same censure if, within a month, the penitent thus absolved does not recur to the Holy See by letters and through the medium of the confessor.
The absolution thus given is direct Holy Office, 19 Aug. The power thus granted in urgent cases is valid for all cases, without exception, reserved by law to the pope or the ordinary, even for the absolution of an accomplice Holy Office, 7 June, As to what constitutes a state of urgency, the reply of 16 June, , is very reassuring, since it permits absolution from censures "as soon as it becomes too distressing to the penitent to remain in the state of sin during the time necessary for soliciting and receiving from Rome the power to absolve".
Now, according to the moralists it is too much to remain even a day or two in the state of sin , especially for priests. The appeal, though usually made through the medium of the confessor, can be made by the penitent himself if he be capable; indeed he should write himself if he cannot easily return to the same confessor Cong. Finally, if both confessor and penitent find it impossible to appeal by letters, these may be dispensed with Holy Office, 18 Aug. The letters should be addressed to the Congregation of the Penitentiaria and should contain information concerning all necessary circumstances, but under a false name Sacr.
If the interested party, though able to appeal to the Holy See , fails to do so within a month from the time of receiving absolution , he or she incurs the former censures, which remain effective until there is a new absolution followed by recourse to Rome. There would, however, be no reincidence if the interval of a month were to expire through the confessor's fault. It is to be noted that this sanction of reincidence applies to all censures reserved to the pope , but not to those reserved by law to the ordinaries.
Finally, this method is not obligatory for censures reserved to ordinaries by diocesan law. Bishops, however, could profitably apply it to such censures, and some have already done so. In danger of death It is a principle repeatedly set forth in canon law that at the point of death all reservations cease and all necessary jurisdiction is supplied by the Church.
XIV, c. This recourse, although identical with that of which we have just spoken for urgent cases, nevertheless differs from it on two points: it is not imposed for the absolution from excommunications simply reserved, and the short delay of a month is not counted from the time of receiving absolution , but from the time of recovery. Excommunicatio, art. The principal ones were destined to protect the Catholic Faith , the ecclesiastical hierarchy and its jurisdiction , and figured in the Bull known as "In Coena Domini" read publicly each year in Rome , on Holy Thursday.
In time, this document had received various additions Ferraris, loc. Now, besides those which it enumerates it retains: 1 the censures decreed and not simply mentioned by the Council of Trent ; 2 the censures of special law , i. As to the censures enumerated, they should be interpreted as if pronounced for the first time, and ancient texts should be consulted for them only in so far as such texts have not been modified by the new law.
We enumerate them here with a brief commentary. Excommunications specially reserved to the pope These are twelve in number and are imposed upon the following persons : 1 "All apostates from the Christian Faith , heretics of every name and sect , and those who give them credence, who receive or countenance them, and generally all those who take up their defence. Islam ; to such apostates are assimilated those who publicly renounce all religion; this apostasy is not to be presumed; it is evident that both kinds of apostates exclude themselves from the Church.
A heretic is one who rejects a Catholic dogma. The first to be considered is the heretic who becomes such of his own volition; who, being in the Catholic Church , obstinately repudiates a truth of faith.
Excommunication is incurred by him, if, with full knowledge , he exteriorly formulates an heretical proposition; and if he seeks to propagate his error he is dogmatizans and should be denounced.
Next comes the heretic who belongs to an heretical association; for such a person his heretical membership alone is sufficient to bring him under sentence of excommunication. In his case the penalty is incurred by adhesion to the heresy , notably by wilful and active participation in sacris i. Finally, the penalty extends to those who believe in heretics credentes and join their ranks; to those who receive them, i.
The act that incurs excommunication is, first, reading done to a considerable extent and culpably, i. The secondary acts punishable with the same penalty are the keeping in one's possession, the printing rather the publishing , and, finally, the defence, by word or by writing, of the books in question.
These books are of two kinds: first, those written by apostates , or heretics , and which uphold and commend heresy , two conditions that must exist simultaneously; second, books specifically condemned, i.
Were this appeal efficacious it would render all church government impossible, unless it be accepted that the normal state of the Church is a general council in perpetual session, or at least meeting at short intervals.
This extreme Gallicanism is justly punishable with excommunication. The penalty is visited upon all those who have influenced such act of appeal, either by aid, counsel, or support. This excommunication, however, is to be strictly interpreted; it would not be incurred in consequence of an appeal made to a future pope , the Holy See being vacant, or to a general council actually assembled.
The text clearly indicates the acts punished by excommunication, i. It punishes any obstacle raised against the delivery or execution of a sentence or decision of the ecclesiastical authority.
It is not question here of the power of order potestas ordinis or of facts that do not really imply jurisdiction , e. Nor is it question of measures taken with prelates so as to influence them into exercising their jurisdiction in a given direction, e.
He is directly prevented when violence is used against him; indirectly, when his subordinates are prevented from acting. The chief opposition here considered is recourse to secular and especially judicial authority. Excommunication is therefore incurred under this head by all who provoke the intervention of secular tribunals, provided such intervention actually follow; by all who deliver orders or directions intended to prevent the exercise of ecclesiastical jurisdiction ; finally, by all who co-operate in these acts with aid, counsel, or support, unless under compulsion.
Moralists and canonists exempt from this penalty the clerks and servants of the secular courts. But the judges themselves, who act by virtue of their office, are not excommunicated Holy Office, 1 Feb. Those who thus force lay judges to violate the privilegium fori are of two kinds: namely, those who actually cite ecclesiastics before secular judges, and the legislators or makers of laws detrimental to the rights of the Church.
The first are not excommunicated provided they have no other means of obtaining justice , i. There remains, therefore, of this censure little more than the second part of the article, which now affects chiefly the legislators responsible for laws and decrees against the liberty and rights of the Church. The regulations governing excommunications have been renewed and somewhat extended by the Motu Proprio "Quantavis diligentia" of 9 October, The letters in question are: first, Apostolic Letters, in which the pope himself speaks, Bulls , Briefs, Encyclicals, etc.
The excommunication considers not only Letters that concern all the faithful , but also those regarding individuals , e.
This admitted, the penalty applies to three classes of persons , namely: those who resort to secular power , not only judicial but administrative, to prevent these Letters from being published or from producing their effect; those who, by means of authority, prevent such publication or execution; and finally, those who, on the occasion of these Letters, strike or terrify either the beneficiaries or even third parties who take part in their publication or execution.
According to the more probable opinion, excommunication is incurred even if these measures of opposition do not produce the intended results. It does not therefore attain forgeries affecting the letters of grants of the Roman Congregations or of prelates. It may be somewhat of a surprise to know that this excommunication does not include those who fabricate an entire Apostolic Letter, the definition of falsification falsum meaning only a notable alteration of authentic Letters either by suppression, erasures, writing over, or substitution.
Petitions addressed to the pope , when granted, are first signed by him, or by the vice-chancellor, or other officers. The grant does not thereby become official, but the petition thus signed serves as a basis for the wording of Apostolic Letters Bulls or Briefs that actually grant the favour requested. In this process three acts are punishable with excommunication: the false signing of a petition; the falsification of Apostolic Letters, and the publication of Letters thus falsified, in order to use them.
By these Bulls the pope , with a view to protecting the Sacrament of Penance from sacrilegious abuse, withdraws all jurisdiction from a confessor for absolving from sins against chastity which he may have committed with another person , whether man or woman ; the absolution he might impart for such sin would be null, and the mere attempt to absolve would incur excommunication.
The sin thus withdrawn from the jurisdiction of the confessor is any grievous exterior sin against the Sixth Commandment, but it must be such on both sides. The confessor accessary to it cannot pardon it, but, this sin once pardoned, he incurs no penalty by again hearing the confession of his accomplice. This being the case, excommunication is incurred by the confessor if he pronounce the formula of absolution after his accomplice has accused himself or herself of this sin , even though he had not the intention of absolving, or even if he only feign to absolve Holy Office, 5 Dec.
Neither gross crassa, supina nor affected ignorance excuses from the censure Holy Office, 13 Jan. There are but two cases in which excommunication is not incurred: first, under absolutely exceptional circumstances where the penitent could not approach another confessor, as the human law does not bind at the cost of such serious disadvantage; again, at the moment of death.
But even then Benedict XIV does not restore the power of absolving nor exempt from excommunication, unless it be morally impossible for the dying person , without grave danger of slander or scandal , to call in another confessor; this condition, however, should be interpreted broadly. To sequester is formally and authoritatively to place in the custody of a third party property withdrawn from the possession of a previous owner. Catholic officials may be hoping that former Catholics will eventually fear death enough to seek some sort of reconciliation with the Church.
Until then, your name is used to indirectly contribute to the stature and power of the Catholic Church because they can report you as a member, thus boosting their perceived popularity among American religions. Aside from denying the Catholic Church any more power than it deserves, there are a number of good reasons why a former Catholic should formally renounce their ties that organization.
It is possible to be excommunicated in a specific, official pronouncement, but this is rarely done. More relevant is latae sententiae excommunication, or automatic excommunication, which can occur for the following reasons according to canon law:.
These can only be committed by a priest or bishop, so you can't use them. Excommunication isn't worth assaulting the pope, so this is out. Desecrating a consecrated host isn't as bad as assaulting a pope, but it's unlikely that you'd find a way to do this. That leaves one option:.
You need to still be some sort of religious theist to be a heretic or schismatic, so if you are a secular atheist your only option is apostasy. There is one more basis for excommunication:. So if one person does something that leads to automatic excommunication, any accomplices that were necessary to the act and who can have the penalty imposed upon them can also be excommunicated.
This opens up options for ex-Catholic friends to find ways to help each other get excommunicated.
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