Standing_Ultraviolet
Dunkleosteus
- Jul 29, 2010
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You are actually still Catholic, even if you are excommunicated. As of now, I think that there is no way to change your canonical status. In the past, I think that you could make a formal act of defection, but that avenue is no longer available.
That said, I'm not entirely sure whether the Code of Canon Law actually declares it to be a latae sententiae excommunication anymore. The current law says that most people (unless they are promoting or directing the association) joining groups like the Free Masons incur "a just penalty", which makes it sound like it's probably a ferendae sententiae penalty (and not necessarily excommunication). The letter from the CDF mentioned in the article linked to on EWTN says that joining a Masonic Lodge puts you in a state of grave sin, but doesn't mention the continuation of the penalty of latae sententiae excommunication.
I could be wrong on that. I'm certainly not a canon lawyer, but if anyone is afraid that they might be under excommunication, speaking to their confessor is probably a better idea than coming to an Internet forum, anyway...
That said, I'm not entirely sure whether the Code of Canon Law actually declares it to be a latae sententiae excommunication anymore. The current law says that most people (unless they are promoting or directing the association) joining groups like the Free Masons incur "a just penalty", which makes it sound like it's probably a ferendae sententiae penalty (and not necessarily excommunication). The letter from the CDF mentioned in the article linked to on EWTN says that joining a Masonic Lodge puts you in a state of grave sin, but doesn't mention the continuation of the penalty of latae sententiae excommunication.
I could be wrong on that. I'm certainly not a canon lawyer, but if anyone is afraid that they might be under excommunication, speaking to their confessor is probably a better idea than coming to an Internet forum, anyway...
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