“The excommunication decree states that for remission of the penalty she must appeal to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I’m a little fuzzy on this but, isn’t that the office of the Inquisition?”
I’m not sure, but there are other acts that incur automatic excommunication as well (such as participation in an abortion). There is a process by which people must be “re-instated”, so to speak.
My understanding is that the sin of abortion is reserved to the local Bishop, if a priest hears it in confession he will ask the woman to return after he has gotten leave from the bishop to absolve. The procedure varies by diocese.