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Objection 1: It would seem that a man who is already under sentence
of excommunication cannot be excommunicated any further. For the
Apostle says (1 Cor. 5:12): "What have I to do to judge
them that are without?" Now those who are excommunicated are already
outside the Church. Therefore the Church cannot exercise any further
judgment on them, so as to excommunicate them again.
Objection 2: Further, excommunication is privation of divine things
and of the communion of the faithful. But when a man has been deprived
of a thing, he cannot be deprived of it again. Therefore one who is
excommunicated cannot be excommunicated again
On the contrary, Excommunication is a punishment and a healing
medicine. Now punishments and medicines are repeated when necessary.
Therefore excommunication can be repeated.
I answer that, A man who is under sentence of one excommunication,
can be excommunicated again, either by a repetition of the same
excommunication, for his greater confusion, so that he may renounce
sin, or for some other cause. And then there are as many principal
excommunications, as there are causes for his being excommunicated.
Reply to Objection 1: The Apostle is speaking of heathens and of
other unbelievers who have no (sacramental) character, whereby they
are numbered among the people of God. But since the baptismal
character whereby a man is numbered among God's people, is
indelible, one who is baptized always belongs to the Church in some
way, so that the Church is always competent to sit in judgment on
him.
Reply to Objection 2: Although privation does not receive more or
less in itself, yet it can, as regards its cause. In this way an
excommunication can be repeated, and a man who has been excommunicated
several times is further from the Church's prayers than one who has
been excommunicated only once.
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