Contemplating the question do Catholics recognize Protestants as Christian here:Does the Catholic Church officially recognize Protestants as Christians?

I am not sure what an official church policy is since the answers that say yes are ambiguous in the details and the no answer has generated great dispute in chat and comments, Therefore I thought asking a related question from the opposite perspective may gather more enlightenment.

Does the Catholic Church punish a Catholic who converts to any religion claiming to also be Christian?

  • Can the Catholic Church punish a former Catholic who has converted to another faith, Christian or otherwise? Surely the person has placed himself or herself outside the reach of the Church. – Dick Harfield Feb 26 '16 at 4:03
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    @DickHarfield That's why Canon 1364 says they've incurred "latæ sententiæ excommunication." Those excommunicated with a latæ sententiæ excommunication have excommunicated themselves. This is in contrast to a ferendæ sententiæ excommunication, which is inflicted upon the culprit by someone within the jurisdiction of the authority (a bishop) with the power to excommunicate. – Geremia Feb 27 '16 at 4:56
  • @Geremia Understood. However, my point was that if they choose to excommunicate themselves, that is scarcely a punishment, and the question asks, "Does the Catholic Church punish ... " – Dick Harfield Feb 27 '16 at 5:36
  • @DickHarfield It's analogous to how a sin is itself a punishment for committing the sin. – Geremia Feb 27 '16 at 6:42

This is a legal issue (since "punishments" are legal consequences), so we'll need to look at canon law.

When one leaves the Catholic Church, one may be rejecting the Christian Church and her teachings altogether, or (as seems more likely in the case you mention) simply rejecting certain of her truths and her ability to authoritatively speak the Truth. The former is technically known as apostasy; the latter may be either schism, heresy, or both. Canon 751 of the Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church states:


The distinction between heresy and schism is mostly that heresy requires "obstinacy"; that is, it requires that one be specifically told that a declared belief or doubt is contrary to Catholic doctrine, and then one must persist in that belief or doubt. Schism simply requires that one, in effect, believe that it's not necessary to follow the Pope and be part of the Church. For the remainder of this discussion, I'll assume that heresy is out of the question, and what is at issue is schism.

(Note: the noted canonist Dr. Edward Peters appears to agree that joining another church is a schismatic act; he refers to Rod Dreher's act of joining the Russian Orthodox Church, for example, as an act of schism.)

Formally speaking, one who commits an act of schism is subject to latae sententiae excommunication, that is, to being excommunicated without the act needing to be declared:


(Canon 1364)

It should go without saying that since a schismatic has voluntarily declared themselves no longer part of the Church, the Church may in turn declare the same thing—not that the individual will feel its effect immediately; but the hope is that if or when the person may return to the Catholic Church, they may feel the gravity of their action, in that they can't just "come back" but must first have their excommunication lifted.

However, it isn't that easy and straightforward. Canons 1321–1324 establish some pretty strict limitations on when excommunications and similar penalties may be imposed. Probably the strictest limitation of all is Canon 1323, section 2:


If this is not specific enough, canon 1324 goes further, specifying in section 1 note 9 and section 3 that

a person who without negligence did not know that a penalty was attached to a law or precept ... is not bound by a latae sententiae penalty.

And since, indeed, most people are unaware of the punishment to be imposed by Canon 751, it is generally inapplicable (unless of course the violator is someone like a priest, bishop, or theologian, who certainly ought to be aware of this in particular).


Yes, a Catholic who becomes a Protestant is automatically excommunicated from the Church by Canon 1364 of the Code of Canon Law:

an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latæ sententiæ* excommunication;

*i.e., excommunicated by the very act itself

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    @Kris The sacrament of reconciliation is permitted to such persons, so even heretics are Christians. Excommunication should be understood as a form canonical penalty. Although the Church forbids the excommunicated from receiving the other sacraments, the Church is foremost a Mother , who desires the return of her lost sheep. – Ken Graham Feb 26 '16 at 1:43
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    @ken graham if the church considers the non Catholic Christian and the excommunicated Protestant convert Christian too for what reason does one have to be called a Catholic in good standing to be part of the body of Christ? – Kris Feb 26 '16 at 2:51
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    Technically if the convertand is not "obstinate" in denial of a truth of the Church (that is, is persistent in denial after instruction and rebuke, generally by their ordinary or pastor), they have not committed heresy (see canon 751); in addition to which, only certain truths of the faith are subject to heresy, see New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law p. 916). Finally there are restrictions on when persons can be excommunicated, see canons 1321 - 1330. – Matt Gutting Feb 26 '16 at 3:29
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    @Geremia I'll be glad to chat about why it appears that even then they're probably not subject to excommunication for this. – Matt Gutting Feb 26 '16 at 11:27
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    @Geremia Canon law is very clear on this point. The restrictions in canons 1321-24 apply to any expiatory penalty, regardless of type. One cannot become excommunicated under any canon if any of those exceptions apply. – Matt Gutting Feb 28 '16 at 13:00

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