Excommunication
Excommunication literally means "out of communion" and is the removal of a member from standing in a religious faith community, usually a church body. In the New Testament, the Jews agreed that if anyone confessed that Jesus is Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue[1], meaning, excommunicated. Most excommunications are automatic under church doctrine, as in the automatic excommunication for facilitating abortion.[2]
Priests can be automatically excommunicated. If, for example, a priest ever reveals the contents of a confession, then he is automatically excommunicated.[2]
Excommunication is a drastic step that may result in cutting ties with other members of that church as well. In the Roman Catholic Church, to be excommunicated mainly results in being prohibited from receiving the sacraments (but not removed from the jurisdiction of the Church). If certain conditions are met, the order may later be lifted.
The concept of excommunication and removing an evil person in a church is discussed in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 5:13; Matthew 18:15–17) and was made famous during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods in references to the Catholic Church. It continues to be practised into the 21st century.
Recognition of an excommunication can occur even after someone has passed away.[3]
Contents
Excommunications by Pope Francis
Though portrayed as liberal by the media, Pope Francis excommunicated an Australian priest who was pro-same-sex marriage and favored allowing women clergy. The excommunication was in Latin and reportedly did not provide an explicit reason, but the bases were well-understood.[4]
Excommunication for desertion, racing, and acting
At the Council of Arles in A.D. 314, which was the first conclave of Christian bishops in the Roman Empire in the West, excommunication was established for those “who throw away their weapons in time of peace," as well as for charioteers and actors.
Practices among Protestants
Though the term "excommunication" is not used, some Protestant denominations (such as the Conservative Mennonites, Amish, and some non-denominational churches) have a similar practice, whereby a wayward member who refuses to repent is removed from the congregational fellowship. Terms used include 'shunning', 'disfellowshipping', and 'church discipline', among others. The practice has been criticized by Christians both liberal (who generally oppose such) and conservative (primarily for abuse of the practice, especially when a church attempts to discipline a member who either seeks to voluntarily leave (or has left) the congregation, or who has brought forth genuine concerns such as false teachings or financial or moral wrongdoing).
Some groups (such as the Jehovah's Witnesses[5]) take the practice further, encouraging the congregation to totally shun the person in public.
See also
External links
- Excommunication, Britannica
- Excommunication, New Advent website (Catholic website)
References
- ↑ John 9:23
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/strong-medicine
- ↑ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm
- ↑ http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100237450/pope-francis-excommunicates-pro-gay-marriage-priest-hes-not-the-liberal-the-media-thinks/
- ↑ Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. "Discipline That Can Yield Peacable Fruit" in The Watchtower; (April 15, 1988) [1]