On Sunday, September 16, 2012, in the churches of the Archdiocese of Shkodër-Pult, Diocese of Sapa and Diocese of Lezha, the faithful have been introduced, preceded by a letter, with the excommunication decree of those people, Catholics, who commit murder, or collaborate and help to make it happen. This decree was made known even by the media.
“As we feel deeply our responsibility as Shepherds of the Church in Shkodra, Sapa and Lezha and we have to protect the Christian communities from any danger, after we have been advised with collaborators and experts as well as with those who have directly been in contact with these episodes, in order to achieve the repentance of murderers and ease the hearts of all people so that such events do not happen again
WE DECREE
That anyone who commits a murder, or cooperates, or intentionally helps it to happen, according to Article 1331 of the Canon Code is punished with excommunication.
Therefore, according to the same article 1331
WE DECLARE
That the excommunicated person
1. Can not take part in the Church celebrations
2. Can not receive the sacraments (Confession, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Order)
3. Can not receive sacramentals: the Christian funeral and burial in the Catholic cemetery.
According to Article 1335 we remind that: “If the punishment forbids the celebration of the sacraments …, the forbid is suspended if it is necessary to take care of the faithful who are in danger of death.”
The Church door will be always open to those, who affected by this decree and the penalties foreseen for them, are repented and change their mentality of murder, want to return to full union with God and the Church. They must concretely show their real intention for change by fulfilling the following conditions:
1. show publicly their repentance
2. repair the injustice done
3. carry out the punishment given by law
4. receive forgiveness through sacramental confession”
This declaration was signed by the Archbishop of Shkodër-Pult, Msgr. Angelo Massafra, the Bishop of Sapa Msgr. Lucjan Avgustini, the Bishop of Lezha Msgr. Ottavio Vitale RCJ and the chancellors Fr. Artan Seli SDS, Don Robert Kola and Fr. Flavio Cavallini OFM.
