When was the last time an American Catholic Bishop actually excommunicated
an elected official? On April 16, 1962, the Archbishop of New Orleans,
Joseph F. Rummel, excommunicated three men who had persistently defied and
interfered with the Archbishop’s order to integrate the parochial schools of
New Orleans. The three men were State Judge Leander H. Perez, State Senator
E.W. Gravolet, and a racist citizen activst B.J. Gaillot.
Two days later, President John F. Kennedy was asked at a press conference,
“Mr. President, would you care to comment on developments in New Orleans
where the Archbishop excommunicated three people for hindering school
desegregation?”
He replied: “No, the action of the Archbishop related to private acts and
private individuals, which did not involve public acts or public policy, so
that carrying out the spirit of the Constitution which provides a separation
between church and state, I think it would be inappropriate for me to
comment on that.”
Excommunication aims to make the excommunicant aware of the grave nature of
his sin, and the peril to his soul. At least for Perez, the excommunication
eventually worked. In 1968 he repented his fervent racism, which was extreme
even compared to other segregationists. He died in 1969 and received a
Catholic funeral.