Señor Reverter declined to do so, saying that the country had need of
it, and upon his refusal the Bishop, without more ado, excommunicated
him.

Excommunication is a terrible punishment to inflict on any one. It means
that the sinner cannot enjoy any of the privileges of the Church, and
that he is forbidden all its comforts and blessings. Further than that,
it almost amounts to boycotting (see p. 998), for all churchmen who do
business with an excommunicated man, or serve him, are put under the ban
of the Church, and become outcasts with him. So that at one blow a man
loses friends and servants, and even has difficulty in getting food and
clothing.

It is said that the Pope was extremely angry with the bishop for having
taken such a serious step without first consulting him.

This power of the Church is very rarely exercised, and while a bishop
has the right to inflict this punishment on a member of his flock, he is
not supposed to do so without first consulting with the Pope, especially
when important personages are involved.

His Holiness was therefore most exasperated to find that the bishop of
Majorca had ventured on such a step without his permission. He has,
however, no ground for refusing to uphold the bishop, so the sentence
will have to stand, but it is rumored that he intends to show his
displeasure by removing the bishop to another diocese where the work
will be harder, and the income not so large.

Napoleon Bonaparte was excommunicated by Pope Pius VII. in 1809, but