There is so much confusion..
An anathema is simply an administrative pronouncement a step above simple excommunication in which it instructs those remaining in communion to not have any interactions with those anathematized. (from Natural Law)
Yet the also tell us that once a catholic ALWAYS a catholic, that like it or not we are under rome.. they need to make up their minds.. are we excommunicated or not??
I THINK it’s not so much our minds as our choice of words.
I THINK an excommunicate person is just under severe discipline. He doesn’t have to repeat the ritess of initiation if he repents; he still has access to the sacrament of confession; and at thebrink of death he can receive communion.
He’s not “un-calflicked”; he’s just in severe time-out.