Excommunication is the most severe penalty that a religious body can impose on a member. It is used only for the most serious violations of the religion’s rules. The penalty varies with the religion. In some religions, an excommunicated person may not participate in any of the religion’s ceremonies. A religion may also prohibit other members from associating with the excommunicated individual.
The procedure for excommunication differs according to the religious body and the nature of the offense. Some excommunications take the form of a declaration by a congregation, minister, or bishop. Others result automatically when the individual breaks certain rules of the religion. For example, Roman Catholics are automatically excommunicated if they physically attack the pope or become a heretic.
See also Middle Ages (The power of the church).
