The Roman Catholic Church withheld Sacrament and closed churches as a punishment.
The magistrate had the authority to grant the interdict according to the Roman and Civil Law. It served as basis for people in breach of the law and it was either final or provisional; that is pre-trial in terms of a hearing to determine a way forward.
In the Roman Catholic canon law, the pope had the power to enforce the interdict and state dioceses. It involve withholding of the sacrament, closing churches and prohibiting certain clerical duties to the guilty people.
