Excommunication

[Ianny01]

This week in my Religious Studies class, we are going over Catholicism. Though I don't particulary appreciate how the professor is going over it sometimes, he said something that seemed incorrect to me. He said something like, excommunications are rarely if ever repealed and that it's almost impossible for a Catholic to return to the fold after being excommunicated. He said he "researched" these things. I'm not so sure of the validity of this statement and so I ask if this is true and if it isn't could a passage of Canon Law be sited? And if so, how should I go about correcting my professor?

Sincerely confused,
Ianny01

[phatcatholic]

excommunications by their very nature are intended [i][b]to compel[/b][/i] a person to return to the fold, not keep them from it. they are medicinal in nature, not vindictive. all you have to do to return is remedy whatever separated you from Her in the first place. usually, that means becoming obedient to an ecclesiastical authority or denouncing a heretical belief. its not that hard.

anyway, here are the canons that pertain to excommunication:

[b]--[url="http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/1/LY.HTM"]excommunicated[/url]
--[url="http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/NX.HTM"]excommunication[/url][/b]

pax christi,
phatcatholic

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Ianny01' date='Oct 13 2005, 02:38 PM']This week in my Religious Studies class, we are going over Catholicism. Though I don't particulary appreciate how the professor is going over it sometimes, he said something that seemed incorrect to me. He said something like, excommunications are rarely if ever repealed and that it's almost impossible for a Catholic to return to the fold after being excommunicated. He said he "researched" these things. I'm not so sure of the validity of this statement and so I ask if this is true and if it isn't could a passage of Canon Law be sited? And if so, how should I go about correcting my professor?

Sincerely confused,
Ianny01
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[/quote]

Your prof needs a bit more study. Excommunication is a loving action by the church that says what you have done is so bad that you need a time-out to rethink your behavior or opinions. Like the prodigal son, you will be welcomed back with loving arms as soon as you get your act together. :
Dependng on the offense committed,this involves repentance and an acknowlegement of church teaching with a priest, bishop or pope.

[thessalonian]

Yes, in 1 Cor 5 Paul says he is going to give the body of a man sinning with his stepmother, over to satan so that his soul might be saved. He chastises the Church itself for not dealing with this man sooner.

[phatcatholic]

good call thess