Is Defrocking the Same as Excommunication

Usually, defrocking isn’t necessary. The purpose of excommunication is not to drive priests away but to make them repent. … When a priest commits a flagrant violation of canon law—declaring he’s Jewish, say, or beating up the pope—he’s subject to automatic excommunication, also known as latae sententiae.

What is the meaning of defrocking?

transitive verb. 1 : to deprive of the right to exercise the functions of office a defrocked priest. 2 : to remove from a position of honor or privilege.

What is the difference between excommunication and interdict?

As verbs the difference between interdict and excommunicate is that interdict is (roman catholic) to exclude (someone or somewhere) from participation in church services; to place under a religious interdict while excommunicate is to officially exclude someone from membership of a church or religious community.