Excommunication

{{Christianity}}

'''Excommunication''' is a form of ecclesiastical discipline practiced by many religions wherein an active member of the religion is kicked out of the religion. Afterward, the leaders of the group will deny the excommunicant the right to partake of the religion's sacraments (i.e., communion, [[marriage]], and confession). This is usually done for doctrinal disobedience.

Excommunication is generally associated with the [[Catholic church]], but it's not used as much these days as it once was. Excommunication or the threat of it was used for a very long time to silence the victims of [[Priest molestation scandal|priestly paedophilia]].<ref>See [[Crimen sollicitationis]].</ref> Today, the threat of excommunication is occasionally reiterated by the Catholic Church for any bishop ordaining a [[woman]] [[priest]], but most notably used to punish people who participate in or consent to abortions. Also, some [[American]] bishops have warned [[pro-choice]] Catholic politicians that they may not approach the blessed sacrament while voting and espousing views which do not adhere to the gospel of life. Two high-profile politicians who have been advised in this manner are [[Nancy Pelosi]] and [[Joe Biden]].

The severity of excommunication varies widely among religions. In some religions, like the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], excommunication carries with it a complete severance from the group. In others, like the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the [[Catholic Church]], it merely means that an excommunicant may still attend church but may not partake of the [[Eucharist]].

==Common forms of excommunication==
There are several actions that religious leaders may take against excommunicants. 

===Interdict===

In Catholicism, the {{wpl|interdict}} is the mother of all excommunications. In the past, it was used against kings and countries. Any bishop may impose an interdict, but in many cases it can only be removed if the offending party appeals directly to the [[pope]]. Interdictions were most commonly used by popes during the [[Middle Ages]] to place political pressure on a monarch, whose subjects might become agitated at the prospect of getting kicked out of their [[religion]] for something said monarch did. Today, most interdicts are aimed at politicians who support [[abortion]]s, unordained people who act as priests, and at [[priest]]s, [[monk]]s, and [[nun]]s who get married.

===Banishment===

{{wpl|Banishment||,}} also called exile, this is when one is forced to leave one's hometown, region, or even country. If the excommunicant's family are not themselves excommunicated, they may be excommunicated if they decide to follow the excommunicant into exile. While banishment may seem like something that couldn't happen in today's [[democratic]] societies, there are still enclaves where the power of religious groups trumps local government control. Or, in some cases, the religious leaders also run the local government.

For example, the [[polygamy|polygamous]] [[Mormon]] [[sect]] known as the [[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]] controls the neighboring towns of Hilldale, [[Utah]] and Colorado City, [[Arizona]]. For years, church leader [[Warren Jeffs]] banished teenaged boys from the towns because they were seen as romantic rivals to the old men (including Jeffs) who intended to marry the towns' teenaged girls.

In contrast to shunning (see below), banishment is, in most cases, unambiguous coercion.

===Shunning===

{{wpl|Shunning}} is the practice of refusing to acknowledge — i.e., ignoring, refusing to look at or speak to — a person who is in your presence. The [[Amish]] are known to shun family members who choose to leave Amish society.

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] are also known to shun members who use [[tobacco]] (specifically prohibited in their denomination), accept blood transfusions (<i>verboten</i> above all other Witness-specific injunctions), [[gambling|gamble]], steal, [[sexual intercourse|fornicate]], or [[alcohol|drink to excess]]. Shunning as church discipline is implemented by the congregation, in parallel with formal excommunication (in Witness usage, "disfellowshipping").

==Catholic canon law==
===Excommunication===
Unless the excusing circumstances outlined in canons 1321-1330<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4W.HTM |title=Cann. 1321-1330 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref> exist, the Code of Canon Law imposes ''latae sententiae'' excommunication on the following:
*an [[Apostasy|apostate]] from the faith, a [[heresy|heretic]], or a [[schism|schismatic]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P52.HTM |title=Can. 1364 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>
*a person who throws away the consecrated Eucharistic species or takes and retains them for a sacrilegious purpose;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P52.HTM |title=Can. 1367 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>
*a person who uses physical force against the [[Pope]];<ref name="can-1370">{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P53.HTM |title=Can. 1370 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>
*a priest who absolves an accomplice in a sin against the [[ten commandments|commandment against adultery]];<ref name="can-1378">{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P54.HTM |title=Can. 1378 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>
*a bishop who ordains someone a bishop without a papal mandate, and the person who receives the ordination from him;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P54.HTM |title=Can. 1382 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>
*a confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal of confession;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P54.HTM |title=Can. 1388 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>
*a person who procures a completed [[abortion]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P57.HTM |title=Can. 1398 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>
*accomplices without whose assistance a violation of a law prescribing ''latae sententiae'' excommunication would not have been committed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4W.HTM |title=Can. 1329 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>

Legislation outside of the Code of Canon Law may also decree ''{{wpl|latae sententiae}}'' excommunication. An example is that governing papal elections, which applies it to persons who violate secrecy, or who interfere with the election by means such as [[simony]] or communicating the veto of a civil authority.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html |title=Universi Dominici Gregis |accessdate=2008-06-01 |author=John Paul II}}</ref>

The ''ipso facto'' excommunication that applied before 1983 to Catholics who became members of [[Freemasonry|Masonic associations]] was not maintained in the revised Code of Canon Law that came into force in that year. However, the Holy See has declared that membership remains forbidden and that "the faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion".<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19831126_declaration-masonic_en.html Declaration on Masonic Associations]</ref>

===Interdicts===
Instances in which one incurs a ''latae sententiae'' interdict include the following:
*using physical force against a bishop;<ref name="can-1370"/>
*attempting to preside at Eucharist, or giving sacramental [[absolution]], when not a priest;<ref name="can-1370"/>
*falsely denouncing a confessor for soliciting a penitent to sin against the commandment against adultery;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P55.HTM |title=Can. 1390 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref> and
*a perpetually professed religious who attempts marriage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P56.HTM |title=Can. 1394 |accessdate=2008-06-01 |work=Code of Canon Law}}</ref>

An example of an interdict that is not ''latae sententiae'' but instead ''ferendae sententiae'' is that given in canon 1374 of the Code of Canon Law: "One who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; one who promotes or moderates such an association, however, is to be punished with an interdict."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P53.HTM | title=Can. 1374 | work=Code of Canon law}}</ref>

==Historical examples of excommunication==
*Simon Magus (maybe)
*The [[Eastern Orthodox Church#Organization|patriarch of Constantinople]]
*Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, for insisting he could choose bishops within his realm, and Henry V, for the same.
*[[Martin Luther]], over the [[Protestant]] Reformation.
*[[Church of England#Founding and the English Reformation|Henry VIII]] (and the archbishop of Canterbury with him)
*[[Napoleon Bonaparte]], for annexing Rome and otherwise annoying the pope (and his predecessor).
*{{wpl|Mary_MacKillop#Excommunication|Mary_MacKillop}}, a nineteenth century [[nun]], for speaking out about a paedophile priest; the priest returned to [[Ireland]] and carried on working, and possibly also carried on abusing.

==Contemporary examples of excommunication==
The Catholic Church has attracted criticism for its baffling need to excommunicate anyone involved in abortions, even in cases where the abortion is performed because of serious concerns for the health of a pregnant person.

In 2009, it was alleged that a stepfather had been raping his then nine-year-old daughter, since she was six.<ref group=note>Make comparisons to [[Mohammed]] at your own risk.</ref> In addition to this, it was claimed he was doing the same to her handicapped sister. The first daughter became pregnant with twins and it was deemed that carrying the twins to term could only be done at serious risk to the daughter's health. An abortion was subsequently performed, which led to the Brazilian Catholic Church excommunicating the daughter's mother and the doctors who participated in the abortion. This decision was later backed by a senior Vatican cleric.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7930380.stm Vatican backs abortion row bishop]</ref>

In 2010, a nun was excommunicated for allowing an abortion to take place to save the life of a patient experiencing heart failure.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126985072 Nun Excommunicated For Allowing Abortion]</ref>

Generally, in the 20th and 21st centuries, it appears that the best way to be excommunicated is to participate in a life-saving medical procedure, become a [[Communism|communist]], or disagree with core Catholic doctrines. You can also get excommunicated or threatened with excommunication if a priest [[Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church|did anything sexual to you while you were underage]] and you dare to speak out about it.<ref>[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23369148-pope-led-cover-up-of-child-abuse-by-priests.do Pope 'led cover-up of child abuse by priests']</ref> [[Crimen sollicitationis]] indicates how excommunication was officially done up to 2001, when it was replaced by the ''[[Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela]]''.

[[Genocide]], [[rape]], and similar unsavoury crimes are likely to be met with criticism, but not excommunication. Medical professionals have been accused of playing God, which is kind of rich coming from an organisation that claims to be led by a guy addressed as ''His Holiness'', whose election was divinely guided, and his proclamations on doctrine are [[Papal infallibility|made flawless]] by God personally intervening to ensure that he cannot err.

==Other religions known to excommunicate their followers==
*[[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
*"Mainstream" [[Mormons]]
*[[Scientologist]]s call it 'Disconnection'. They are not universally regarded as a religion.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

[[Category:Catholicism]]
[[Category:Religious terms]]
[[Category:Religion]]

Categories: Catholicism, Religious terms, Religion