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Objection 1: It would seem that a man cannot be absolved from one
excommunication without being absolved from all. For an effect should
be proportionate to its cause. Now the cause of excommunication is a
sin. Since then a man cannot be absolved from one sin without being
absolved from all, neither can this happen as regards excommunication.
Objection 2: Further, absolution from excommunication is pronounced
in the Church. But a man who is under the ban of one excommunication
is outside the Church. Therefore so long as one remains, a man
cannot be loosed from another.
On the contrary, Excommunication is a punishment. Now a man can be
loosed from one punishment, while another remains. Therefore a man
can be loosed from one excommunication and yet remain under another.
I answer that, Excommunications are not connected together in any
way, and so it is possible for a man to be absolved from one, and yet
remain under another.
It must be observed however that sometimes a man lies under several
excommunications pronounced by one judge; and then, when he is
absolved from one, he is understood to be absolved from all, unless
the contrary be expressed, or unless he ask to be absolved from
excommunication on one count only, whereas he was excommunicated under
several. On the other hand sometimes a man lies under several
sentences of excommunication pronounced by several judges; and then,
when absolved from one excommunication, he is not therefore absolved
from the others, unless at his prayer they all confirm his absolution,
or unless they all depute one to absolve him.
Reply to Objection 1: All sins are connected together in aversion
from God, which is incompatible with the forgiveness of sin:
wherefore one sin cannot be forgiven without another. But
excommunications have no such connection. Nor again is absolution from
excommunication hindered by contrariety of the will, as stated above
(Article 2). Hence the argument does not prove.
Reply to Objection 2: Just as such a man was for several reasons
outside the Church so is it possible for his separation to be removed
on one count and to remain on another.
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