New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30
sBE PENALTY OF ExCoMMUNICAT1oy.
A WEAPON WITH WHICH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ENFoRCEs ITS WILL.

r.. reported intention OF tho French Canadian
b,ahops TO refuse the sacraments TO all Catholics
who accept the settlement OF the school oues"o"
adopted by the Canadian Government makes
brief explanation OF the meaning OF excommuni-
cation timely Accommodation itself. though
80, Tho name is much older than the Catholic
Church References II numerous In the
Greek tragedians. and every classical scnoiar Is
familiar with the Roman exsecratio and diris oe-
yotio Caesar in his commentaries Seie's u
The same practice among the Druids. and readers
81 the Old Testament will recall frequent examples
Of the practice among the ancient Hebrews. IL
was their custom to put to death a de'o'eo per
son or animal and whole cities that were LOT one
reason or another put under the ban were ruin
lessly destroyed. the innocent with the guilty. Cen
tiles more commonly met with the latter 1ate' pu'
there was little pity for the lsraelito VINO was
'cut off" by the congregation.
Tho Christian practice of accommodation mas
its authority in the New Testament. In essence II
IL simply the right which every organization must
exercise of excluding from membership those who
are no longer worthy of membership. Such right
is exercised every day by all the Protestant booes
when. for reasons that are satisfactory 10 'he"
they drop from the rolls" certain OF their FORMER
members. But it is in the Roman Catholic Church
that the function has assumed the greatest I'M
portance. Two causes have contributed TO this. IL
is the teaching Of the Church that outside OF the
Church there salvation. AS explained by the
Church, this degree is much less harsh than IL
sounds But however literally it is explained. II
makes exclusion from the Church most serious
thing and a good Roman Catholic Will even en-
dure tyranny and injustice rather than incur IT.
And this very fear Of accommodation has con-
tributed to make 1t potent weapon in the Church.
Of as nSa Of
medieval history are familiar with the deveIoped
When the Pope pronounced an interdict on a nation;
all the services of the Church in that nation ceased
until he lifted the nterdict Al time When p raS
ticaly all the people were members OF the Cnurch,
this proceeding was drastic enough 10 , prls h any
country to terms. AS for excommunicatlon ahere
two grades. The minor excommunicatioh e 1,
course this was a serious punishment TO those who
believed the dogmas Of the Church; but many turpu
intention of making their peace with the Church
Just before their death. Sometimes. however. they
serious though not hopeless. for the power of the
Church wa ne ooe '
calamity. and petition against 1t was inserted III
The major accommodation, however. was most
TO be dreaded. IL excluded the culprit from me
ecclesiastical jurisdiction and from all intercourse
with other Christians, except what was ansolu,ey ~
the punishment the Church was Obliged to invoke
the aid of the State which of course sne dways
ing the accommodated person Infamous AZ 90
LEGATIONS to him such as debts or i% n
cation at their hand the Popes and BISHOPS w rs
Di ss ne c eaa law Of the Church reiened
preme in theory. and practically also In iact In
the Protestant churches accommodation came TO
be no more than dropping a name from the rolls
And the Roman Church found it inadvlsable 10
carry out the extreme theory of excommunication
since IT would require the aid Of the state ana IN
would be out of the question. In
the case of the me- ndement Of the Quebec bishops
II is probable that only minor excommunicston Is
involved. But to the loyal Catholics of Canada
that is bad enough. and there are few OF them
probably, who would care to incur it, ordinarily ~
rests with the parish priests to enforce sentence OF
accommodation But in community OF loyal
Catholics like that of Quebec ii virtually enforces
itself since even those who are eXcommuncateo
acknowledge the right OF the Church TO bind ana
loose.