Interdict
An Interdict usually refers to an ecclesiastical penalty in the Roman Catholic Church. The most common usage is a penalty which suspends all public worship and withdraws the church's sacraments in a territory or country. An interdict issued against a country was to it the equivalent of issuance of excommunication against an individual. An interdict would cause all the churches to be closed, and almost all the sacraments not to be allowed (i.e. preventing marriage, confession, extreme unction, the eucharist). An interdict against a country would often cause the citizens of that country to demand the government fix whatever caused the interdiction, or in some cases to rebel and overthrow the government.
The interdict can also be a penalty against a specific individual. It is like excommunication in that the person is barred from receiving the sacraments and participating in public worship, but it does not bar the person from continuing to hold and exercise ecclesistical office. Thus, for a lay member of the church, it is basically equivalent to excommunication.
Certain offenses incur an automatic interdict:
- Physical violence against a bishop
- Attempting to preside over or concelebrate in Mass while being a deacon or lay person
- Hearing and/or attempting to absolve confessions while being a deacon or lay person
- Falsely accusing a priest of soliciting adultery while in confession
- Attempting to marry while having a perpetual vow of chastity
An Interdict can also refer to a type of shield or military defense against attack.
