Excommunications

It took another half century of theological wrangling, rival synods, imprisonments, excommunications, and finally another council in 381 (Constantinople I) to define the nature of the Trinity and the final form of the creed.

Historically the American left, more than the right, was known for circular firing squads and excommunications.

As a result of this marriage and these excommunications, the first break between the Church of England and Rome took place and the Church of England was brought under the King's control.

As soon as he learned about the seriousness of the situation of the king, he absolved him of all excommunications and other ecclesiastical punishments.

More recently, in 1965 the mutual excommunications were rescinded by the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople, though schism remains.

Notices of excommunication may be made public, especially in cases of apostasy, where members could be misled; however, the specific reasons for individual excommunications are typically kept confidential and are seldom made public by church leadership.

Since the lifting of excommunications during the Paul VI and Athenagoras I meeting in Jerusalem there have been other significant meetings between Popes and Ecumenical Patriarchs of Constantinople.

The excommunications for apostasy, heresy or schism were reserved to the Apostolic see in special manner, though they could be solved by the bishop (though not the general vicar) in his stead (can. 2314 § 2).

The other excommunications still in existence were reserved to the bishop as they are now.

Until Sixtus V, canon lawyers had applied the code from Gratian whereby excommunications were only given to abortions after the quickening.