Those certain circumstances would be the instance of mortal sin.
What in your mind would be other "certain circumstances"?
As a once divorced/quickly and validly annulled Catholic, I do have a dog in this race. I've been through the process and smell a rat.
And btw, my Mom excommunicated herself for a few years in the early 60's by marrying outside the Faith. She remarried within the Church four years later to remedy the situation, so no one need tell me I don't know "how the Church was back then."
If anyone is going to make accusations about the Church they'd had better provide some proof instead of wimpering about mean people when Catholics validly contest outright falsehoods.
Well, Catholics ought to have their arms open, for those who are seeking. This is one time to come from the heart, Deborah.
She didn't "excommunicate" herself. She placed herself outside the graces of the Church, but did not leave the Church.
Excommunication is a specific penalty for a specific action. Sin does NOT equal excommunication.
Oh, for pity's sake, Peach was seven years old when all this happened. Give her a break. All she knows is that the Catholic church was not warm and fuzzy about her family's trauma. Any religion that is so dogmatic that it does not relate to the weakest of it's parishoners is worthless. The Bible says that who so ever believeth in him shall have everlasting last life, it doesn't mention anything about unless you break the rules of the Catholic church.