Marginalia, no.270

In 1499 some sparrows were excommunicated for depositing droppings on the pews in St Vincent, in France. In 1546 a band of weevils were tried for damaging church vineyards in St Julien.

~ Richard Mabey, Weeds

There’s no word on whether these actions evoked any contrition in the offenders, or if the poor sparrows were ever restored to communion. I suppose nature’s apostates might also include things like polio, malaria, and cholera. They say that influenza lives in constant fear of Vatican lawyers. Unfortunately, cancer, as an aggressive mutation of one’s own cells, cannot be excommunicated without at the same time excommunicating the patient.