A common question

A reader asks:

Can you give a synopsis for why Catholic pols like Pelosi aren’t formally excommunicated? I’m not stumping for it, wishing for it or trying to draft a movement in that direction. I am confused by it more than anything and, if I were a non-catholic looking in, I think I would be doubly confused. It would seem only reasonable that any catholic responsible and openly pushing for the HHS mandate would pick up a little Episcopal blowback.

Presumably because the bishop of the given pol thinks it will do more harm than good. Beyond that, my psychic powers are pretty weak. It would be better to put the question to a bishop than to me or the combox commentariat, whose urge to excommunicate people greatly exceeds that of the Church, as a general rule.