In the [[Roman Catholic Church]], '''''Latae sententiae''''' is a [[Latin]] phrase used to describe acts that [[excommunication|excommunicate]] a member at the moment they are done. ''Latae sententiae'' is contrasted with ''ferendae sententiae'', which describes excommunications performed by Church authority.<ref>http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=481429&Pg=&Pgnu=&recnu=</ref>
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'''''Latae sententiae''''' is a Latin phrase, meaning "sentence (already) passed". A latae sententiae penalty is one that follows ipso facto or automatically, by force of the law itself, when a law is contravened.
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In the [[Roman Catholic Church]], ''Latae sententiae'' is a [[Latin]] phrase used in the canon law of the Catholic Church to describe acts that [[excommunication|excommunicate]] a member at the moment they are done. ''Latae sententiae'' is contrasted with ''ferendae sententiae'', which describes excommunications performed by Church authority.<ref>http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=481429&Pg=&Pgnu=&recnu=</ref>