Roman Catholic Excommunication and International Law

By

Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif

© Copyright 2009 by Anthony J. Fejfar

Under Roman Catholic Canon Law the Pope and Bishops have the power of

Exommunication the effect of which is for the person on the receiving end to be denied

the Roman Catholic Sacraments, including Confession. As practical matter those who

are excommunicated are banned and often scapegoated and persecuted.

Now, the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights provide that

everyone has a right of religious self-determination. Therefore, once a person leaves

that Catholic Church and chooses another church, such as the Episcopalian Catholic

Church, under International Law such person cannot be excommunicated.