We must now treat of excommunication: we shall consider: (1) the definition, congruity and cause of excommunication; (2) who has the power to excommunicate; (3) communication with excommunicated persons; (4) absolution from excommunication.

Under the first head there are four points of inquiry:

A[1] Whether excommunication is suitably defined?

A[2] Whether the Church should excommunicate anyone?

A[3] Whether anyone should be excommunicated for inflicting temporal harm?

A[4] Whether an excommunication unjustly pronounced has any effect?