A question about excommunication? Especially Catholics please answer.?

Question

Does a person who voluntarily leaves the fellowship of a church HAVE to be excommunicated, to be considered a non-member?

Imagine a man, raised a Roman Catholic. Let's call him "Fred".

Fred was raised by good Catholic parents, and attended Mass as a child, was trained in a good Catholic school, was involved in his local youth group, etc. After he leaves home for college, he continues in his Catholic tradition...for a while.

As an adult, Fred becomes disenchanted with the faith of his parents, and starts investigating other theorys and religions. He quits going to mass, but can still "talk" like a Catholic. He eventually repudiates his former faith, and starts actively harrassing Catholics, committing acts of vandalism and violence against them, burning Catholic Bibles, etc.

Does Fred HAVE to be excommunicated by the Church to be considered "not a Catholic" anymore?

Why or why not?

Answer 1

This is an extreme case, I'd say.

Someone leaves the Church in their hearts before they even stop going to Mass. If you are just going through the motions and don't believe in the Eucharist or in Christ, you're not fooling the Lord.

His repudiation of the Catholic faith is considered automatic excommunication. That doesn't mean that a Bishop has to take any action - Fred has already done it by announcing that he's broken ties with the Church. This is really all that's necessary because it is all that it means. Excommunication is the state of being outside of the Church. It's not likely that he'd receive some sort of official announcement (unless of course he was taken before a Canon Tribunal, which is generally reserved for clergy accused of teaching heresy).

Answer 2

Once a Catholic, always a Catholic. You can't become 'un-'Catholic even if you try!

Excommunication means ONLY that a person cannot receive the Eucharist- which is a big deal to a sincere Catholic. It is what is called a medicinal penalty- only meant to be temporary....it requires Sacramental Confession.

Excommunication also happens automatically. No formal statement by the Church is necessary because the Church does not excommunicate anyone. People excommunicate themselves by their actions. For example, having an abortion-( as well as participating in one i.e. doctor, nurse or driving the woman to the clinic) automatically excommunicates a person.

A person like Fred in your example is guilty of heresy and schism and has excommunicated himself...but is still quite Catholic.

Answer 3

What a weird question. Sounds like Fred is rebelling. But by dishonoring the church won't get him to be non catholic. Really there isn't anything you can do to get to not be a certain religion. If he don't want to be catholic anymore then have him go on with his life. Find whatever makes him happy. But vandalism and burning bibles isn't going to help get him thrown out of the religion.

Answer 4

According to your scenario, Fred has publicly repudiated his faith - therefore is not a Catholic. Excommunication is not required.

He can repent at any time, and be received back into the Church. But his public repudiation, and some of his acts, would be treated very seriously.

Now there are some acts his could commit that would carry with them automatic excommunication - but no formal act is required for someone to leave the church.

Answer 5

Religion is all in Fred's head. If he believes that Catholic gobbledygook and wants to know if he is excommunicated he is still a catholic. If he doesn't care less one way or the other about whether or not he is excommunicated he probably he is emancipated from the dogmatic trappings of his religious cult.

Answer 6

Sounds like he excommunicated himself - I dont care what religion Fred is now subscribing to, actions such as "acts of vandalism and violence against them" is wrong anyway you look at it.

Answer 7

No, presuming he was baptized and he did his First Communion and his Confirmation. Excommunication is the only way the Church will recognize him as no longer belonging once these two ceremonies have been performed.

Answer 8

As long as you put your trust in the 'church' as an authority over you, you are subjegating yourself to their rules. Jesus said to trust in him. That's the way HE set it up. The church got in the way and it sounds like you accepted that interference.

I would consider it an honor to be excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church. A real honor. It would tell me that I was free from the bondage that they offer to those traditions that they practice that take my eyes off God, and onto myself or them. I would be free to claim a relationship with God through Jesus Christ unfettered.

You do that, and you will see that the whole world takes on a different look. A look with a bright horizon and a life with God as the head of you. The boss of you. Not the RCC.

Answer 9

>>He eventually repudiates his former faith.<<

By their very nature, schism, heresy and apostasy all result in automatic excommunication and sever one from the Church. (See paragraphs 22 and 23 of Mystici Corporis Christi:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_29061943_mystici-corporis-christi_en.html

Answer 10

The way to change the world is to change people's minds. As more and more people openly discuss the fact that "God" and "Allah" are completely imaginary, the world becomes a better place. The people who believe in "religion" look sillier and sillier. Eventually, religion becomes a fringe activity that is meaningless.