How to excommunicate yourself...

[brendan1104]

Q: Having an abortion means automatic excommunication from the Church. Are there other sins that carry this penalty?

A: Yes. In the 1983 Code of Canon Law (CIC) eight other sins carry the penalty of automatic excommunication: apostasy, heresy, schism (CIC 1364:1), [b]violating the sacred species (CIC 1367)[/b], physically attacking the pope (CIC 1370:1), sacramentally absolving an accomplice in a sexual sin (CIC 1378:1), consecrating a bishop without authorization (CIC 1382), and directly violating the seal of confession (1388:1).

[url="http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9505qq.asp"]http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9505qq.asp[/url]

[zunshynn]

Yes and having an abortion is forgiven in the sacrament of Penance. As are any of the others with open expression of retraction and remorse, to the best of my knowledge.

Edited August 28, 2006 by zunshynn

[CatholicCid]

If I beat the Pope in arm wrestling, would that count as assault?

[Ash Wednesday]

Wow...automatic excommunication from physically attacking the pope.

I can imagine John Paul II could have had a fun time with that one if he engaged in recreational sport with some of his colleagues. Like playing soccer.

"AHHAHAHA.... good luck slide tackling me, suckers...you can't touch me, I'm the POPE!"

[Era Might]

How do you excommunicate yourself?

"Well, there are any number of ways."

...*he says in his best Newman voice.* (Remember when Elaine went to Newman to kidnap a dog? Yah).

However, there's an important addendum to Latae Sententiae excommunication:

[quote]1321 §2. A penalty established by a law or precept binds the person who has deliberately violated the law or precept; [b]however, a person who violated a law or precept by omitting necessary diligence is not punished unless the law or precept provides otherwise.[/b][/quote]

Edited August 28, 2006 by Era Might

[avemaria40]

but, about the sexual sin, why is it wrong to absolve an accomplice? what do they mean by accomplice anyway, like someone who committed the sin with that person or something?

[Era Might]

[quote name='avemaria40' post='1052049' date='Aug 28 2006, 09:02 AM']but, about the sexual sin, why is it wrong to absolve an accomplice? what do they mean by accomplice anyway, like someone who committed the sin with that person or something?[/quote]
Because a Priest can say, "We'll do this, but don't worry, I'll absolve you afterwards." It's a conflict of interest and an abuse of the Sacrament.

[avemaria40]

ooo, the priest is the one doing it in this case. I see now

[rkwright]

I thought joining the free masons was also an automatic excommunication.

Under 1917 Canon Law
[quote]Can 2335: Affiliation With Masonic or Similar Societies. Those who join a Masonic sect or other societies of the same sort, which plot against the Church or against legitimate civil authority, incur ipso facto an excommunication simply reserved to the Holy See.[/quote]

Under 1983 Canon Law
[quote]Can. 1374 A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty - one who promotes or takes office in such an association is to be punished with an interdict.[/quote]

From Quaesitum Est
[quote]Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.[/quote]

[Aloysius]

joining the masons is the same as joining another religion-- i.e. apostacy, and as such does carry latae sentiantae excommunication.

to remove latae sentiantae excommunication one must go to a bishop or a priest whom the bishop has given special faculties to. ordinary confession does not accomplish this unless with one of those people.

Era, does that quote intend to say that one must know the specific law? I think if they know it is against Church teaching/law then they would incur the punishment, even if they did not know what the punishment is. if they did not know that the action carried latae sentiantae excommunication, someone should inform them that they have already been excommunicated and need to remedy the situation.

basically, if they do it knowing it's a sin according to the Church, then they incur excommunication, correct?

[DAF]

Actually you're automatically excommunicated when you commit a mortal sin (like abortion or attacking a cleric).

[Era Might]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1052272' date='Aug 28 2006, 05:42 PM']Era, does that quote intend to say that one must know the specific law? I think if they know it is against Church teaching/law then they would incur the punishment, even if they did not know what the punishment is. if they did not know that the action carried latae sentiantae excommunication, someone should inform them that they have already been excommunicated and need to remedy the situation.[/quote]
That is my understanding, yes, one must know an offense is excommunicable for the latae sententiae penalty to apply. It is such a serious offense, I think the Church wants to make sure not to throw it around willy-nilly.

[Aloysius]

see, that's not how the law reads to me...

to have " deliberately violated the law or precept" does not necesarrily mean you know the specific law or the specific punishment: if you know it's a grave offence against church law, then you are excommunicated by doing it anyway. in that way you deliberately violate the law, even if you did not understand the penalty at the time. you should be informed that you ahve been excommunicated if you commit one of these acts.

DAF, you are not excommunicated for mortal sins... well, not in the sense the term is used in the code. sure, you are cutting yourself off from communion with the Church, but you are not leaving the Church's membership. you remain in the church as a diseased member of the Church who needs to be healed. these offences make you no longer a member of the Church until you talk to your bishop to come back.