Excommunication is a formal process used by religious organizations to remove an individual from their community or congregation. This action typically occurs when a member violates significant doctrines or moral standards, and it serves as a means of discipline or correction. The individual is often barred from participating in religious services and sacraments. In many traditions, such as Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity, excommunication is seen as a serious measure intended to encourage repentance and reconciliation. The excommunicated person may still seek to return to the community by demonstrating a change in behavior and seeking forgiveness from religious authorities.