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Objection 1: It would seem that a man can excommunicate himself,
his equal, or his superior. For an angel of God was greater than
Paul, according to Mt. 11:11: "He that is lesser in the
kingdom of heaven is greater then he, a greater" than whom "hath not
risen among men that are born of women." Now Paul excommunicated an
angel from heaven (Gal. 1:8). Therefore a man can excommunicate
his superior.
Objection 2: Further, sometimes a priest pronounces a general
excommunication for theft or the like. But it might happen that he,
or his equal, or a superior has done such things. Therefore a man can
excommunicate himself, his equal, or a superior.
Objection 3: Further, a man can absolve his superior or his equal
in the tribunal of Penance, as when a bishop confesses to his
subject, or one priest confesses venial sins to another. Therefore it
seems that a man may also excommunicate his superior, or his equal.
On the contrary, Excommunication is an act of jurisdiction. But no
man has jurisdiction over himself (since one cannot be both judge and
defendant in the same trial), or over his superior, or over an
equal. Therefore a man cannot excommunicate his superior, or his
equal, or himself.
I answer that, Since, by jurisdiction, a man is placed above those
over whom he has jurisdiction, through being their judge, it follows
that no man has jurisdiction over himself, his superior, or his
equal, and that, consequently, no one can excommunicate either
himself, or his superior, or his equal.
Reply to Objection 1: The Apostle is speaking hypothetically,
i.e. supposing an angel were to sin, for in that case he would not be
higher than the Apostle, but lower. Nor is it absurd that, if the
antecedent of a conditional sentence be impossible, the consequence be
impossible also.
Reply to Objection 2: In that case no one would be excommunicated,
since no man has power over his peer.
Reply to Objection 3: Loosing and binding in the tribunal of
confession affects our relation to God only, in Whose sight a man
from being above another sinks below him through sin; while on the
other hand excommunication is the affair of an external tribunal in
which a man does not forfeit his superiority on account of sin. Hence
there is no comparison between the two tribunals. Nevertheless, even
in the tribunal of confession, a man cannot absolve himself, or his
superior, or his equal, unless the power to do so be committed to
him. This does not apply to venial sins, because they can be remitted
through any sacraments which confer grace, hence remission of venial
sins follows the power of orders.
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