excommunication
excommunication n. 绝罚；开除教籍 一种教会惩罚，指将被惩罚者逐出教会。分为两种，前者指被惩罚者不能参加圣礼或担任圣职，惩罚程度较轻，由教会法官执行；后者针对最严重的违反教规者，被惩罚者不能与任何基督徒交往，甚至被捕入狱。如果被绝罚者认罪并忏悔，可由教会法官、主教或教皇赦免。中世纪绝罚经常被用以惩罚世俗君王，但后逐渐失效。
EXCOMMUNICATION
excommunication
excommunication, n. Eccles. law. A sentence of censure pronounced by a spiritual court for an offense falling under ecclesiastical cognizance; expulsion from religious society or community. • In England, an excommunicated person was formerly subject to various civil disabilities, such as an inability to be a juror, to be a witness in any court, or