Comments on: Ask Richard: I Want to Officially Leave the Catholic Church

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:05:29 +0000

Thank you Eoin for bringing this to our attention. I've published a post about it.

By: Eoin

Eoin — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 06:26:19 +0000

I would like to thank this website for providing this facility.

I have just found this news going through links.

“In April of this year, the Catholic Church modified the Code of Canon Law to remove all references to the act of formal defection, the process used by those who wish to formally renounce their membership of the Church.”

To follow what is going on please refer to this site: http://www.countmeout.ie/suspension/

By: Petey

Petey — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:58:40 +0000

I’m in the UK and I filled out the Declaration of Defection last summer, but I never received any acknowledgment. I wonder if I should just contact the diocese and check I’m no longer a Catholic.

By: Helen

Helen — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:15:53 +0000

The catholic church does keep a proper register of anyone who’s ever been baptised. You can’t get off the list (the act of baptism has been performed on you), but you can request that they add your defection.

In some countries (as Germany, Austria, Switzerland), also the tax office keeps a record on your religion, because they collect taxes on behalf of the churches.

The catholic church is a highly centralised organsiation and has central rules on defection (actus defectionis).
Basically you will have to turn to the church where you have been baptised and convince them that you do not believe (since according to their belief this entails your eternal damnation, they of course want to be totally sure for your sake ).

Do check countmeout.ie , it will be very helpful (both for reasons on why to have the record adjusted and on how to technically do it).
Practically, you just have to write a letter.

By: Emily

Emily — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:09:49 +0000

Slightly off topic, does anyone know the name of the comedian in the Irish news clip (about two minutes in)?

By: Mareike

Mareike — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:41:15 +0000

In Germany, as long as you are a member of the catholic or evangelic church, you pay a church tax, which for many is the best reason to leave the church. I never realised it’s different in other countries.

Regarding registers: I would assume that all churches have at least some sort of registries for baptisms. (Well, that’s often a clue in movies and tv shows if people are looking for informations.)

By: Erp

Erp — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:18:24 +0000

I suspect how easy it is to get off depends on how much power an ordinary member has. If the ordinary member has a vote and/or other power then it is fairly easy to be removed (or if the local church is suppose to send money to the central organization depending on number of members, if the member isn’t paying drop them quickly). If the ordinary member is just useful to add to the advertised count, then it is difficult to get off the list.
My understanding is that even excommunicated Catholics are still Catholics though bad ones. Apostates might be a different matter though even they aren’t rebaptized or reconfirmed if they return to Catholicism.

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:25:05 +0000

My experience is in the Lutheran church, but during my walking away process, I received letters for a few years saying that if I failed to “communion” (used as a verb) with them, I would be removed from their membership list.

I never returned, so I hope I’m off their list!

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:55:17 +0000

Loulou, you said:

I disagree with Richard on this one. As a former Catholic, without officially removing yourself from the Catholic count board, your family can still arrange your funeral as a Catholic one.

Disagree with what? I didn’t advocate that he not do it.

I presented Daniel with a method of formally defecting, some reasons that some people have expressed for just leaving it alone, and my own reasons for why defecting might be the appropriate thing for some people to do. Then I told Daniel that I hope that whatever he decides helps him.

I agree with you that a person should have control over the particulars of their after-death arrangements, and if formally defecting from the Church can reinforce that, along with a will, a codicil and prior arrangements with a funeral home, then they should defect.

By: Lagunatic

Lagunatic — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:15:42 +0000

Atom Jack,
I hear rigor mortis does a body good…if it’s admiration you’re after.