Roman: Catholics a Rare Excommunication

Catholics a Rare Excommunication

Shortly before her daughter's confirmation last May, Mary Ann Sorrentino, executive director of Rhode Island Planned Parenthood, was told by her pastor not to participate. The reason: she had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. When Sorrentino, 42, questioned the action, she was reminded that two Planned Parenthood clinics performed abortions in the state and that canon law decrees automatic excommunication for receiving an abortion or helping another to receive one. News of the action came out only last week when a local cable-television program aired a segment on abortion. During the show, Sorrentino heard a priest describe her as...

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