"Pope Francis has good news for atheists. Jesus died and was raised for them as well. His redemptive embrace was for all, not just a chosen few.The choice to accept its reach is our own. The Holy Father was not teaching anything new. In fact, this hope that all who do not yet know God are not only capable of doing good - but will progress toward that knowledge of God by doing good - is ancient."
So atheists have an open door, but the Mafia is "Excommunicated."
Are there heretical and apostate Protestants and Protestant churches. Absolutely. Absolutely, yes.
These are false teachers who have abandoned the true Gospel.
But what the pope is selling is that membership in the Roman Catholic church is the door to heaven, unless he says so and "Excommunicates" you.
That isn't the Gospel.
How does a person get to heaven?
But moreover, it absolutely floors me that the Vatican does not send out this "Excommunication" to the Kennedy's, Pelosi's, Kerry's of this world.
You also don’t know how excommunication is handled.
Some excommunications come directly from the Holy See, but very few, and for very specific reasons.
Most people excommunicate themselves automatically (latae sententiae).
For those excommunicated publicly, it is done by local bishops, and only after the person/group has gone through a trial, etc., where they have been given the opportunity to repent, or otherwise correct the situation.
From a great article I recommend you read:
It is interesting to note that this one technical term from the lexicon of Canon Law still fascinates the general public, even though it may be imperfectly understood. Youre excommunicated! sounds a lot more thrilling than any sentence that contains a word like delict, process or rescript.