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Objection 1: It would seem that those who are not priests cannot
excommunicate. Because excommunication is an act of the keys, as
stated in Sent. iv, D, 18. But those who are not priests have
not the keys. Therefore they cannot excommunicate.
Objection 2: Further, more is required for excommunication than for
absolution in the tribunal of Penance. But one who is not a priest
cannot absolve in the tribunal of Penance. Neither therefore can he
excommunicate.
On the contrary, Archdeacons, legates and bishops-elect
excommunicate, and yet sometimes they are not priests. Therefore not
only priests can excommunicate.
I answer that, Priests alone are competent to dispense the sacraments
wherein grace is given: wherefore they alone can loose and bind in the
tribunal of Penance. On the other hand excommunication regards
grace, not directly but consequently, in so far as it deprives a man
of the Church's prayers, by which he is disposed for grace or
preserved therein. Consequently even those who are not priests,
provided they have jurisdiction in a contentious court, can
excommunicate.
Reply to Objection 1: Though they have not the key of orders, they
have the key of jurisdiction.
Reply to Objection 2: These two are related to one another as
something exceeding and something exceeded [Article 1, a 2;
Question 24, Article 1, ad 1], and consequently one of them
may be within the competency of someone while the other is not.
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