Have any of these pedophiles actually been excommunicated? I have only heard of those who were asked to avoid active ministry, but they should not only be defrocked but excommunicated. Taking away the childhood of a living child through rape or abuse is every bit as evil as the killing of the unborn.
If someone begs repentance for any sin, they will be forgiven and allowed back in communion.
Presumably there are no pedophiles in the ministry who say: "Pedophilia is perfectly moral and acceptable, therefore I do not apologize because I have done nothing wrong."
Such an individual would be excommunicated, since they have committed one or even two of the four sins that the Scriptures say cry out to Heaven for vengeance.
However I would think that all of those in the ministry probably admitted what they did was evil and have begged for absolution - which the Church cannot legitimately deny to someone who is penitent.
The issue here is that many people actually do say: "Upholding the legality of abortion or destroying human beings in the name of scientific research is perfectly moral and acceptable, therefore I do not apologize because I have done nothing wrong."
Such individuals, because they are impenitent and refuse to acknowledge that they have done evil will be excommunicated.
Excommunication really hinges on the attitude of the transgressor towards their own transgression. Anyone who begs forgiveness and seriously resolves to sin no more can never be permanently excommunicated.