Fallible if perhaps Automatic

[Tishdugan at AOL.COM]

Ms. Hartigan is confusing theology with law.  Excommunication is not about
the Body of Christ and which part you are.  Excommunication is about your
status in the Church as an institution.  Hit the Pope or have an abortion and
you are out.  No Holy Communion, no burial in a Catholic Cemetery, etc. etc.
Conscience is nice to talk about in a theoretical, hypothetical,
philosophical way.  But the law is the law and it governs the institution.
Who gets through the pearly gates is a whole other issue.  One totally
removed from excommunication.  Canons are law, not commandments.  The Church
giveth and the Church can take it away.

Tish Dugan