Excomminication And Mortal Sin

[MissyP89]

I've been thinking about mortal sin and excommunication.

When you sin mortally, you've cut yourself off from God and the Eucharist. When you are excommunicated, you are barred from those same things, but still allowed to attend Mass and are encouraged to repent as soon as possible.

So, when one commits a mortal sin, isn't he or she essentially automatically excommunicated, considering they shouldn't receive the Eucharist?

How are the states of mortal sin and the pain of excommunication different?

Thanks!
(Also, thanks to Pio Nono for the help on the Arian heresy--my presentation went very well.)
Missy

[Pontifex]

[quote name='MissyP89' post='1502673' date='Apr 18 2008, 01:27 PM']I've been thinking about mortal sin and excommunication.

When you sin mortally, you've cut yourself off from God and the Eucharist. When you are excommunicated, you are barred from those same things, but still allowed to attend Mass and are encouraged to repent as soon as possible.

So, when one commits a mortal sin, isn't he or she essentially automatically excommunicated, considering they shouldn't receive the Eucharist?

How are the states of mortal sin and the pain of excommunication different?

Thanks!
(Also, thanks to Pio Nono for the help on the Arian heresy--my presentation went very well.)
Missy[/quote]

It's a very interesting question, but I think the main difference is that excommunication requires an extra step to be reconciled with the Church. Mortal sin can be taken care of in the confessional always. A priest cannot give absolution until the excommunication has been lifted.

For instance, if a Catholic desecrates the Eucharist and goes to confession, the priest will (should) tell them that they cannot absolve them until the excommunication has been lifted by the Holy Father. If someone commits an abortion, the delegation to lift the excommunication has been given in most dioceses to priests. It depends on the reason for the excommunication.