Article I: Of Excommunication

§ 1. Excommunication is a censure by which someone is excluded from the communion of the faithful with the effects which are enumerated in the canons which follow, and which cannot be separated.

§ 2. It is also called anathema, especially if it is inflicted with the solemnities which are described in the Roman Pontifical.

§ 1. Some excommunicated persons are to be avoided, others tolerated.

§ 2. No one is to be avoided unless he has been excommunicated by name by the Apostolic See, the excommunication has been publicly denounced, and in the decree or sentence it is expressly said that he must be avoided, with the prescription of can. 2343, Sec. 1, n. 1 preserved.

§ 1. Any excommunicated person lacks the right of assisting at divine offices, but not at the preaching of the word of God.

§ 2. If a tolerated excommunicated person assists passively, it is not necessary that he be expelled; if one to be avoided, he must be expelled, or, if he cannot be expelled, one must cease from the office, provided that this can be done without grave inconvenience; but from active assistance which brings with it some participation in celebrating divine offices, not only one to be avoided is to be repelled, but also anyone after a declaratory or condemnatory sentence, or otherwise notoriously excommunicated.

§ 1. Nor can an excommunicated person receive the Sacraments; indeed, after a declaratory or condemnatory sentence, not even Sacramentals.

§ 2. As regards ecclesiastical burial, the prescription of can. 1240, Sec. 1, n. 2 is to be observed.

§ 1. An excommunicated person is prohibited licitly to confect and administer Sacraments and Sacramentals, with the exceptions which follow preserved.

§ 2. The faithful, with the prescription of Sec. 3 preserved, can for any just cause ask Sacraments and Sacramentals from an excommunicated person, especially if other ministers are lacking, and then the excommunicated person, having been requested, can administer the same and is held by no obligation of inquiring the cause from the one requesting.

§ 3. But from excommunicated persons to be avoided, and also from other excommunicated persons after a condemnatory or declaratory sentence has intervened, the faithful can ask, in danger of death alone, both sacramental absolution according to the norm of can. 882, 2252, and also, if other ministers are lacking, the other Sacraments and Sacramentals.

§ 1. An excommunicated person does not become participant in indulgences, suffrages, and public prayers of the Church.

§ 2. Nevertheless there are not prohibited:

1° The faithful privately praying for him.

2° Priests privately and with scandal removed applying Mass for him; but, if he is one to be avoided, only for his conversion.

An excommunicated person is removed from legitimate ecclesiastical acts within the limits defined by law in their places; he cannot act in ecclesiastical causes except according to the norm of can. 1654; he is prohibited from discharging ecclesiastical offices or functions and from enjoying privileges previously granted by the Church.

An act of jurisdiction, whether of the external forum or of the internal forum, placed by an excommunicated person is illicit; and, if a condemnatory or declaratory sentence has been borne, also invalid, with the prescription of can. 2261, Sec. 3 preserved; otherwise it is valid, indeed also licit, if it has been sought by the faithful according to the norm of the aforementioned can. 2261, Sec. 2.

§ 1. Any excommunicated person:

1° Is prohibited by the right of electing, presenting, nominating.

2° Cannot obtain dignities, offices, benefices, ecclesiastical pensions, or another function in the Church.

3° Cannot be promoted to orders.

§ 2. Nevertheless an act placed against the prescription of Sec. 1, nn. 1, 2, is not null unless it was placed by an excommunicated person to be avoided or by another excommunicated person after a declaratory or condemnatory sentence; but if this sentence has been borne, the excommunicated person cannot besides validly obtain any pontifical grace unless mention of the excommunication is made in the pontifical rescript.

After a condemnatory or declaratory sentence, an excommunicated person remains deprived of the fruits of dignity, office, benefice, pension, function, if he has any in the Church; and one to be avoided, of the dignity, office, benefice, pension, function itself.

The faithful must avoid communion in profane matters with an excommunicated person to be avoided, unless there is question of a spouse, parents, children, servants, subjects, and generally unless a reasonable cause excuses.