Excommunication
Scripture
Canon law
Catechism
The word "excommunication" appears only three times in the Catechism.
- Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication, the most severe ecclesiastical penalty, which impedes the reception of the sacraments and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts, and for which absolution consequently cannot be granted, according to canon law, except by the Pope, the bishop of the place or priests authorized by them. In danger of death any priest, even if deprived of faculties for hearing confessions, can absolve from every sin and excommunication.[1]
- Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,"[2] "by the very commission of the offense,"[3] and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.[4] The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.
- From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3), gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life.
References
- ↑ Cf. CIC, can. 976: "Even though a priest lacks the faculty to hear confessions, he absolves validly and licitly any penitents whatsoever in danger of death from any censures and sins, even if an approved priest is present"; CCEO, can. 725.
- ↑ CIC, can. 1398.
- ↑ CIC, can. 1314: "Can. 1314 Generally, a penalty is ferendae sententiae, ["judgment to be imposed" so that it does not bind the guilty party until after it has been imposed; if the law or precept expressly establishes it, however, a penalty is latae sententiae, ["judgment imposed"] so that it is incurred ipso facto when the delict is committed."
- ↑ Cf. CIC, cann. 1323-1324.