Excommunication. It’s a subject that rarely fails to makes the headlines and did so again when area and national news media reported that a local woman, Janine Denomme, incurred excommunication when she participated in a simulation of an ordination in April and was subsequently denied a Mass of Christian burial in May. “Those who have separated themselves from the church are not permitted to participate in the full life of the church including the Eucharist or any other liturgical ceremony,” said a statement from the archdiocese regarding Denomme. “Those who willingly separate themselves from the church are denied a church funeral unless they gave some sign of repentance before death.” Even though excommunication, or separation from the Catholic Church, has been part of canon law for many years, it is still widely misunderstood. “Excommunication is not being thrown out of the church,” said Father Daniel Smilanic, the archdiocese’s vicar for canonical services. “It is a penalty that is attached to certain acts that are considered seriously criminal or scandalous in the church.” One example of such an act is when a priest violates the seal of confession. The simulation of ordination of a woman is another such act. In 2007, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a decree regarding the “attempted sacred ordination of a woman” that stated “the one who attempts to confer a sacred order on a woman, and the woman who attempts to receive a sacred order, incur an excommunication latae sententiae.” Since Denomme participated in an “attempted ordination,” her actions excommunicated her. “She knew it. She did it and that’s why she incurred it [excommunication],” said Smilanic. “We had no choice.” Latae sententiae is a type of excommunication that is incurred as soon as the act is committed. Another type of excommunication is farendi sententiae, which is imposed upon someone after the fact. After the Second Vatican Council the church reduced the number of actions that can incur excommunication, Smilanic said. The excommunication can also be lifted. The purpose of penalty in canon law is to attempt to reform the person’s behavior and restore them to communion with the church, he said. It is not something that the church does lightly. “We don’t feel good about this sort of thing,” Smilanic said. Why aren’t priests convicted of sexually abusing children typically excommunicated? Smilanic said it is because the church is not trying to restore the convicted abusers to communion or reform their behavior. The church wants them removed from ministry completely so they don’t harm anyone again. Since excommunications can be lifted that’s not a favorable option when trying to protect minors. “We don’t want to impose upon them something that they can have lifted. We want to have a permanent resolution,” he said. Who may be ordained? “Only a baptized man may be ordained in the sacrament of Holy Orders. Jesus Christ chose men to become part of the Twelve. Throughout his ministry, his attitude toward women was different from the culture, and he courageously broke with it. For example, he did not hesitate to speak with the Samaritan woman even though custom forbade it. But it was only men whom he chose to be the Twelve Apostles and the foundation of the ministerial priesthood.” — U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults, pgs. 267-268.