 They are urged to retain a relationship with the Church, as the goal is to encourage them to repent and return to active participation in its life.These are the only effects for those who have incurred a "latae sententiae" excommunication.For instance, a priest may not refuse Communion publicly to those who are under an automatic excommunication, as long as it has not been officially declared to have been incurred by them, even if the priest knows that they have incurred it.