In the 1964 movie Becket, St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, excommunicates Lord Gilbert for detaining and killing a priest. In the dramatic scene – a line of monks process in, chanting the Dies Irea – and Archbishop Thomas Becket, fully vested – standing before the altar – Solemnly declares Lord Gilbert excommunicated -
“We exclude him from our Holy Mother Church and all her sacraments, in heaven, or on Earth. We declare him excommunicate and anathema. We cast him into the outer darkness. We judge him damned with the devil and his fallen angels and all the reprobate, to eternal fire and everlasting pain!”
How accurate is the movie? Well, in terms of how excommunication was done – not very – at no point in history was there a liturgical rite of excommunication – and there are some serious theological issues with the rite invented for the movie – But St Thomas Becket really did excommunicate Lord Gilbert – in fact, he did it twice.
While it may have theological problems - It is a very well-done movie scene and captures how many people think about excommunication – a dramatic punishment – something used throughout the Middle Ages. And not something that we usually think of as very Christ-like – we usually think of Jesus as being kind, tolerant, forgiving, calm, always accepting and healing - … - he was not calm, kind, accepting, or kind when he turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple… Some things are not negotiable – a community must have discipline and rules – and the Church is no different – one must live by the faith – in line with the teachings of the Church – rules that guide us in communion and our life in Christ – pointing us to the source of our salvation and to heaven.
Rules, penalties, punishments - means to maintain discipline have always existed in the Church throughout her history – including excommunication. – Today, these are given in Book VI of the Code of Canon of the Church – but they are grounded in scripture, in what Christ teaches his disciples – First seek to correct the one who is sinning that you might win them back. If that does not work – go with a couple of others as see if that might work – and if that does not work – bring them before the church – and if that does not work? “Treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.”
Those are strong words – While the IRS might not be liked very much today, in the ancient world, tax collectors were particularly hated – they were not honest – their income was based on how much tax they could extract over what they had to give to the state – so they often took more tax than was owed – and further – they worked for the conquering power the Roman Empire – Tax Collectors were separated from society- an enemy to be avoided – great sinners – they are to be kicked out of society – to be shunned and avoided at all costs!
A harsh punishment to be treated like a tax collector – they were treated poorly by society – and how badly did Jesus treat tax collectors? - … - He ate with them – loved them- called them to repentance – sought their salvation – For Christ to treat someone as Gentile or tax collector, it is to love them – seek their repentance – seek for their salvation – Yes they are outside to communion of the Church – but to goal is to bring them back in. – It is not about damnation – it is about salvation
Excommunication is just this – a goal to save the sinning brother – that he might repent and once again be in communion – that he might find heaven – Is it a last resort? – Yes – it is last on Jesus' list of things to do – But it is there as something the church can do – right there from scripture – from Jesus himself – a last tool to try and call them back.
What is the theological problem in the movie Becket? – As good of a movie as it is – and it is worth watching - it presents excommunication as a declaration of Judgment – but we are not to judge – it is not judgment - that is for God - it is an attempt to call to repentance – to restore them to communion in the church- that they might be reconciled and be right with God and Neighbor.
And if someone is excommunicated – how do we treat them? As Gentiles and tax collectors – just as Jesus did – to love them – eat with them – call them to repentance –that the excommunication might lifted – that they might be restored to communion – that they might find their salvation with Christ. – for it is not out of judgment – but out of love – seeking to return a soul to Christ.