Not A Priest, Sorry
Just to put any speculation to rest, I’m not a priest. Just a Catholic layman who follows Church issues with interest.
So, do take what I say with a grain of salt (which you should to some extent anyway even if I were a priest). I didn’t realize people were taking me quite so seriously, but in future I’ll try to make less sweeping statements and link to authoritative sources when possible.
Incidentally, I checked up on the Code of Canon Law (the administrative rules for running the Church, basically—warning, lots of jargon). It looks like I was wrong about the excommunications being automatic1.
The Church takes this stuff seriously, but usually I find it is much less harsh than I might personally prefer it to be. Which is probably a good thing for all concerned. If I had to pick a serious personal weakness, the foremost would likely be an overly judgemental inclination.
Erm. *looks at clock*
The next would probably be a decided lack of discipline with respect to the hours I keep. Better start working on that now. Good night…
1 Book VI, Part II, Title III: Usurpation of Ecclesiastical Functions and Delicts in Their Exercise, if you’re morbidly curious. For reference, excommunication is the most severe punishment. Instead, Canon 1381 simply specifies a “just penalty”, which is pointedly not latae sententiae (instant/automatic).