[Tamar1973]

The Catholic Church usually reserves excommunication for recalcatrant bishops and authority figures, not for pew-warming Catholics.

It's RARELY done. I think the last time I heard of someone getting excommunicated in the RCC, it was in reference to a bishop in Africa who "married" a woman in a ceremony performed by Rev. Moon. He repented and the pope took him back.

[wimpycat]

Can his priest refuse to give him communion (assuming he shows up for mass once in a while)? Is refusing communion within the discretion of the priest? Is that tantamount to excommunication?

[ninenot]

Depending on a few factors (very few, now) Chretien may well BE excommunicated as we type.

Excommunication is automatic for those who participate in an abortion and in certain circumstances for those who facilitate same. It's possible that C. has excommunicated himself.