I do not write these words lightly.
To call for the excommunication of a fellow Catholic is not rhetorical theater. It is not partisan strategy. It is not personal grievance. It is, if it is anything at all, an act of trembling seriousness.
And yet, Candace Owens must be excommunicated.
Excommunication in the Catholic Church is not spiritual exile. It is a severe mercy. It is medicinal. Its purpose is not humiliation but repentance. It is meant to awaken a soul and to protect the faithful — when grave, public distortion of the faith places others in danger.
Candace Owens is not merely a political commentator who happens to be Catholic. She has become one of the most influential voices shaping Gen Z Catholics in America. Her reach is vast. Her words travel faster than bishops’ letters. For many young Catholics who feel disoriented by cultural chaos and ecclesial confusion, she appears strong, decisive, unafraid.
But influence carries proportionate responsibility. When that influence is wrapped in Catholic identity while gravely misrepresenting Catholic teaching — particularly in ways that contradict the Church’s explicit moral and doctrinal commitments — the damage is not merely political. It is ecclesial and spiritual.
Continue reading at The Christian Post here.
Simone Rizkallah helped launch the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism (CCAA) in October 2023, which now advances its mission at the Institute of Religion and Democracy. The Coalition is committed to rejecting antisemitism, strengthening Catholic–Jewish solidarity, and building bridges of solidarity with persecuted communities everywhere.
Comment by Dan W on March 3, 2026 at 6:31 am
Joe Biden wasn’t excommunicated…
I’m not a Candace fan either.
Comment by Different Steve on March 3, 2026 at 7:57 am
Nancy Pelosi has not been excommunicated from the Catholic Church.
A local bishop has instructed that she not be admitted to Communion in his jurisdiction due to disagreements over doctrine and public advocacy.
In May 2022, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone issued a declaration under Canon 915 that Pelosi “is not to be admitted to Holy Communion” in his archdiocese because of her public support for abortion rights as a Catholic lawmaker. This was a ban on receiving the Eucharist, not a formal excommunication.
This kind of ban means a bishop instructs priests in his territory not to give someone Communion under certain conditions. It does not remove her from the Church or sever her membership.
Pelosi has publicly said she has continued to receive Communion at times and has appealed the matter to the Vatican for resolution.
Excommunication is a specific canonical penalty that formally excludes someone from participating in the sacraments and from certain aspects of Church life unless and until it’s lifted. This has not been declared against Pelosi by her bishop or the Vatican.
She remains a member of the Catholic Church.
Comment by David on March 3, 2026 at 11:39 am
Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus. Excommunication means going to Hell.
Comment by Wilson R. on March 3, 2026 at 12:04 pm
To be excommunicated is to be excluded from Holy Communion and from the Body of Christ. Catholics who actually study the Bible on their own might notice that not even Judas was excluded from the first communion meal, even though Jesus knew what he was about to do. And if Jesus did not see fit to excommunicate Judas, then who are Christians to excommunicate anyone?
Comment by John on March 3, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Excommunication only works if the person is deeply committed to Catholicism and believes their soul will be in peril if they’re cut off. To know whether this would be an effective disciplinarian tool you have to look at the person. It doesn’t take a psychologist to see that Owens is paranoid and possibly has some undiagnosed conditions such as a bi-polar disorder. She believes the world is out to get her and takes any kind of challenge to her way of thinking as a personal attack. This persecution complex explains her cycle of behavior and the perceptions of being betrayed that have driven her “conversions” from liberal to MAGA conservative to antisemite and conspiracy theorist. She was a liberal until 2016 when she launched a website that would dox online trolls. When she was criticized for it and doxed herself, she blamed other liberals and claimed her eyes had been opened. The irony is that the website was attacked by both liberals and conservatives concerned about privacy issues and potential abuse, but because she felt betrayed by her own, she became a pro-Trump conservative. Her recent behavior is also driven by paranoia. The more others challenge her on peddling of conspiracy theories concerning Kirk’s death, the deeper she goes. The more people condemn her antisemitism the deeper she goes. Owens only converted to Catholicism a couple years ago. The Pope and church leadership have said plenty challenging her views on Jews, which hasn’t seemed to stop Owens from peddling her hate. I think if she were excommunicated rather than cause her to repent, it would only radicalize her more. She’d take it as confirmation that the world is out to get her and that the Catholic Church is part of the conspiracy. She feeds on negative attention.
Comment by Qohelet on March 4, 2026 at 8:13 am
The reason no Pope has backed excommunicating mainstream politicians like Biden or Pelosi and none will back excommunicating Owens (or honestly Vance, even though he’s been publicly rebuked by two of them) is that for whatever flaws each has had, the last several Popes have tried to be pastors of their flock and they had the wisdom to understand that more division and anger is not what the Church needs right now. Pastors are supposed to be in the business of reconciliation and healing. Of course we have to stand up for what’s right and fight what’s wrong but not because we hate the other person and want nothing to do with them, but because we want the world to be better. Saying someone is in grave error is one thing. Excommunicating them seems like something left over from the Inquisition and not the goal, which is to change their mind.
Comment by Thomas on March 6, 2026 at 10:11 am
I don`t think Candace Owens should be excommunicated but at least she can be denied communion. Its not the same thing. Excommunication is an act of love. It means the person is suspended from the Church, but not excluded, and needs to retract their heresies to return. Under the Pontificate of Pope Francis, when Cardinal Müller was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, several people were excommunicated, including a couple from the dissident organization We Are Church, who made fake masses. Its not that easy to excommunicate people these days. Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò was excommunicated by Pope Francis from schismatic actions. Yes, fake Catholics who have monstruous pro-abortion agendas should be excommunicated. But nowadays they aren`t often even denied communion in the United States. Cardinal Cupich, who fortunately who will be replaced soon, says a person can support abortion until birth and still take communion. Pope Leo XIV needs to do much better than Pope Francis if he wants to put order in the Church.
Comment by Td on March 7, 2026 at 6:00 am
If the Holy Father isn’t excommunicating the bishops in Germany for teaching heresy, He certainly isn’t going to excommunicate a American podcaster that very few people know as being Catholic. The list is long of people who probably should be excommunicated.
Comment by Elaine on March 13, 2026 at 11:34 pm
I’m sorry but you are not a church authority to call for excommunication. She is excercising her right to free speech just like you and every other person does. You many not like her views, you don’t have to listen but she is a faithful Traditional Catholic and I personally admire her for speaking the truth regarding of the cost. What did Jesus say… “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me,” He was calling for a radical, self-denying commitment to discipleship. I believe Candace is doing just that, picking up her cross and following Jesus Christ in the face of severe persecution and death threats.