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Alonso Velazquez wrote:

Hi guys,

Here is the scenario:

Someone approaches Communion in sin with enough knowledge — then on top of that, mistreats the Blessed Host with contempt, disregard, and malice (dolus) while consuming it. The subject is aware enough that such actions can incur penalties in Church law.

  • Could this person incur an excommunication (automatically)?
Alonso
  { Could a recipient of Communion who mistreats the Host with contempt be excommunicated? }

Eric replied:

Alonso —

Disclaimer: We are not canon lawyers, and for any practical advice, we advise you to consult a canonist.

You ask "could" this happen. I will answer that question (not "would" or "will" it happen; consult the canonist).

Canon 1382 of the Code of Canon Law (CIC) says:

" † A person who throws away the consecrated species or takes or retains them for a sacrilegious purpose incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; moreover, a cleric can be punished with another penalty, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state."

Code of Canon Law: New English Translation (Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America, 1998), p. 427

Insofar as:

  1. the person intends to be sacrilegious (and my non-expert opinion is that this is definitely arguable);
  2. they are aware that this excommunication exists,

they could incur automatic excommunication.

Eric
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