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Scott Peyton's son was abused by a priest. Despite being a deacon, Peyton left the Catholic Church to worship elsewhere... so the Church excommunicated him. The priest? He's still technically a priest in the Church's eyes. Read that again. www.friendlyatheist.com/p/catholic-c...

They punish the conscientious father with threats of hell because he objected to one of their own putting his son through hell. How they still have followers is beyond me.

They didn't "punish" him. He left the church. I haven't gone to Catholic mass in 40 years. It would be weird if they thought I was still a member in good standing.

So excommunication is meant to be a reward then.

It sounds like you forgot that excommunication was a punishment and want to try and make it sound like it's my fault you're an idiot.

It's not my fault you cannot discuss the issue dispassionately without losing any semblance of self-control. I said you were not interested in "good faith" discussion because you decided to claim I said something I had not said. Now, I'm an "idiot" because I don't agree with you. Grow up already.

Excommunication literally means banishment from the church. That's all. If you think that constitutes punishment, then you are still thinking that it's reasonable for the church to mediate your understanding of life. If a church excommunicated me, I wouldn't care.