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In 1999, she was ordained as a priest by a breakaway church in France, though the Catholic Church, which does not allow female priests, refused to recognize the ceremony. In an open letter to Pope Francis in August 2018, O'Connor requested excommunication.
Claiming she had been excommunicated by Popes Ratzinger and John Paul II for her ordination, she asked for a Vatican certificate to "proudly display" to her grandchildren. Later, in October 2018, she announced via her now-deactivated Twitter account that she would convert to Islam and adopt the name Shuhada Sadaqat.
Castro’s approach to governing included diminishing the Church’s power, which opposed communism, by nationalizing schools, expelling over 130 priests to Spain, and restricting religious publications. He was reportedly excommunicated in 1962 by Pope John XXIII, allegedly due to a 1949 decree banning Catholics from joining Communist parties.
Castro had a long history of suppressing the Catholic Church in Cuba. In a notable act of suppression, he banned Christmas for 30 years, from 1969 to 1998. Despite this antagonistic relationship, Castro met with Pope John Paul II in 1998 and later with Pope Francis in 2015.
However, some scholars argue the excommunication followed his expulsion of Bishop Eduardo Boza Masvidal from Cuba, violating Canon law and triggering automatic excommunication. Other experts question whether the excommunication was ever officially enforced.
Undeterred, Henry married Anne Boleyn, defying papal authority in hopes of securing a legitimate heir to the throne. Catherine was banished from the court, and Henry launched a bold assault on the Catholic Church.
The final break occurred when Henry dissolved the monasteries, looted their relics, and solidified his role as Supreme Head of the Church of England, enraging Catholic leaders. In retaliation, Pope Paul III excommunicated Henry in 1538.
In 1520, Pope Leo X issued a papal bull in response to Luther's challenges to Catholic doctrine. The bull condemned forty-one of Luther's propositions and threatened him with excommunication unless he recanted within sixty days of its publication in Saxony and nearby regions.
The German priest and theologian strongly opposed several Catholic doctrines, particularly the sale of indulgences. In 1517, he publicly challenged these doctrines with his 'Ninety-Five Theses,' initially seeking a theological debate. However, when Pope Leo X demanded he retract his views, Luther refused. This defiance ultimately led to the Protestant Reformation.
Luther stood firm, writing tracts against the papacy and publicly burning a copy of the bull on December 1520. As a result, he was excommunicated in 1521. Later that year, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V declared Luther an outlaw at the Diet of Worms. Luther remained excommunicated until his death, in 1546.
Captured and handed over to the enemy, she was excommunicated and burned at the stake by a pro-English bishop in 1431, charged with heresy. In 1456, Pope Callixtus III held a re-trial and cleared her of all charges. She was declared a martyr, canonized, and became Saint Joan of Arc.
Raised in rural France, Joan of Arc was deeply religious. She claimed to have visions of the archangel Michael and to hear voices instructing her to drive the English out of France and support the Dauphin, Charles, in his claim to the throne.
As a young peasant girl in the 15th century, Joan had little power or influence, yet she famously led the French army to victory over the English during the Hundred Years' War.
Robert the Bruce ruled Scotland from 1306 to 1329. With the Scottish people's appeal, Pope John XXII lifted his excommunication and recognized him as the rightful king. With papal support, Bruce negotiated a peace treaty with England in 1328, securing Scotland's independence.
Before becoming King of Scotland, he served as a guardian of the realm with his rival, John Comyn. Bruce eventually killed Comyn at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. This act, committed in a sacred place, led to Bruce’s excommunication by Pope Clement V and condemnation by King Edward I of England.
Robert I, also known as Robert the Bruce, was the king of the Scots who secured Scotland's independence from England, famously supporting William Wallace's rebellion against English forces.
In 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots—a Catholic and a Tudor descendant—arrived in England, sparking an uprising among earls who hoped for a Catholic monarch. They rebelled against Elizabeth’s Protestant rule, even holding an illicit Catholic mass. Elizabeth responded by executing over 800 rebels and hunting down the rebellious earls.
Following the Protestant Reformation, Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, solidified the Church of England as the official religion of England, breaking with the authority of the Pope. This decision continued her father's legacy of challenging the Catholic Church.
In 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I, declaring her a heretic and absolving Catholics from their allegiance to her. However, Elizabeth's power remained strong. In 1571, Parliament further solidified her authority by making it treasonous to question her legitimacy.
The French emperor was a long-time opponent of the Catholic Church, primarily due to the increasing political influence of the clergy in France.
In 1796, Napoleon's troops captured Pope Pius VI, who later died in French captivity. After years of negotiation, Napoleon reached an agreement with the new Pope, Pius VII, recognizing Catholicism as the dominant religion in France but limiting the Pope's political influence.
In 1809, Pius VII excommunicated Napoleon after he annexed Rome. In retaliation, the French emperor imprisoned the Pope for five years. However, Napoleon was ultimately exiled, allowing Pius VII to triumphantly return to Rome.
He initiated a campaign to separate church and state, eliminate prayer in public schools, and legalize divorce. These efforts drew strong criticism from religious groups.
Juan Perón served as President of Argentina during a period of significant political upheaval. In 1952, following the death of his wife, Eva Perón, who was deeply loved by the Argentine people, public support for Juan Perón began to decline.
A citizen's petition initiated by the school’s Religion teacher deemed the video blasphemous, prompting the Bishop of Mallorca to excommunicate Hudson. Despite this, Hudson has become a prominent figure in Spain, known for her activism, podcast hosting, and appearances on shows like 'MasterChef Celebrity' and the 2022 Netflix film 'Rainbow.'
Sources: (Mental Floss) (Ranker) (History and Headlines) (Business Insider) (Slate) (La Opinión de Zamora)
The Spanish drag artist was excommunicated in 2015 for a controversial music video created as a school project when the performer was 15. The video, featuring daring choreography and explicit lyrics, explored the oppression of the LGBTQ+ community by the Catholic Church.
Hudson, whose real name is Iván González Ranedo, labelled the video as a manifesto of his "holy thirst for Christian homosexuality." While reportedly well-received by some teachers, the project sparked outrage among the local Christian community.
The late Irish singer-songwriter had a troubled past with the Catholic Church, having been sent as a child to a Magdalene laundry, a notorious institution run by the Church that subjected "fallen women" to harsh and often abusive conditions. In 1992, she famously tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II on 'Saturday Night Live.'
In 2006, during the Confessions Tour, the third excommunication occurred. The singer appeared on stage strapped to a mirrored cross, wearing a crown of thorns, which was considered blasphemous by Pope Benedict XVI.
In 2022, she tried to mend fences by attempting to contact Pope Francis, hoping for a meeting. However, the Vatican didn't respond. Then, in 2024, she seemingly took a different approach. She posted an AI-generated image showing Pope Francis kissing her. The bold move left fans wondering if the Queen of Pop was hoping for a fourth excommunication!
The relationship between Madonna and the Catholic Church has been complicated for a long time: she was excommunicated on three occasions! The first occurred in 1989, after the release of the music video for 'Like a Prayer,' in which she appears kissing a depiction of a Black Jesus Christ in front of burning crosses.
During the 1990 Blond Ambition Tour, Madonna simulated self-inflicted pleasure on stage, prompting Pope John Paul II to call for a boycott of her shows in Italy, labeling it a "devil’s circus."
Throughout history, there have been famous figures whose disagreements with the Catholic Church went beyond mere differences of opinion. Whether it was their defiance of Church doctrine, political ambitions, or personal controversies, these public figures didn’t just face criticism—they were excommunicated. From kings and revolutionaries to pop culture icons, the clergy handed them down the ultimate punishment (at least on Earth, if we're leaving hell out of it), with lasting personal and public consequences.
But the Catholic Church’s power to exclude isn’t just a thing of the past. Even today, the Church occasionally issues these dramatic proclamations. Curious about who’s been caught up in it? Click on to find out.
Famous people who were excommunicated by the Catholic Church
Who are the most famous sinners in history?
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Throughout history, there have been famous figures whose disagreements with the Catholic Church went beyond mere differences of opinion. Whether it was their defiance of Church doctrine, political ambitions, or personal controversies, these public figures didn’t just face criticism—they were excommunicated. From kings and revolutionaries to pop culture icons, the clergy handed them down the ultimate punishment (at least on Earth, if we're leaving hell out of it), with lasting personal and public consequences.
But the Catholic Church’s power to exclude isn’t just a thing of the past. Even today, the Church occasionally issues these dramatic proclamations. Curious about who’s been caught up in it? Click on to find out.