As multiple posters have pointed out, by their actions they have already excommunicated themselves. That the church hasn't yet acknowledged it publically matters little.
"As multiple posters have pointed out, by their actions they have already excommunicated themselves. That the church hasn't yet acknowledged it publically matters little."
I disagree. There is much ignorance, even among catholics, concerning IVF. The Church has not publicly gone after the IVF problem like it has the embryonic stem cell research problem.
Many are unaware that IVF results in so much death. Others may be tentative about publicly opposing it because we are dealing with couples who are trying to have babies - as opposed to trying to abort them.
I have not heard one homily addressing the IVF problem. In fact I know of catholic couples who have been advised by priests that it is acceptable for them to go through with this procedure.
We need to be consistent. If excommunication is being threatened because of the destruction of human embryos...the fertility clinics have destroyed more embryos than the embryonic stem cell researchers have.