{"id":8335,"date":"2012-09-24T11:26:52","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T16:26:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/?p=8335"},"modified":"2016-09-30T15:58:41","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T20:58:41","slug":"is-this-news-german-bishops-withhold-sacraments-from-the-un-baptized","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/2012\/09\/is-this-news-german-bishops-withhold-sacraments-from-the-un-baptized\/","title":{"rendered":"Is This News? German Bishops Withhold Sacraments from the \u201cUn-baptized\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>In January 2012, I wrote<\/a> about the growing trend among Europeans to request that they be \u201cunbaptized\u201d<\/strong>\u2014that is, not content to merely stop attending Mass on Sunday, they wanted to be formally removed from the rolls at their local Catholic parish, and to have any record of their baptism expunged. \u00a0They wanted to be \u201cunbaptized.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, that\u2019s not possible.<\/strong>\u00a0 As I wrote before<\/a>, the Sacrament of Baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul, and formal resignation from the Church does not obliterate that mark.\u00a0 Apart from that, however, a declaration of \u201cunbaptism\u201d has effects in civil society.<\/p>\n

In Germany, for example, adherents of any religion<\/strong>\u2014whether Catholic, Protestant or Jewish\u2014pay a \u201creligious tax\u201d which is equal to 8 or 9 percent of their total tax bill.\u00a0 By disavowing their belief in the faith, German citizens can hope to reap financial benefits, if not eternal benefits.\u00a0 Reasons for the departure of more than 181,000 Germans from organized religion in the year 2010 include a loss of faith, disagreement with Church policy, disappointment following the clergy abuse scandal, and potential tax benefits.<\/p>\n

Well, the Roman Catholic bishops of Germany have reacted:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Last week the German bishops issued a decree declaring the practice of \u201cunbaptism\u201d a \u201cserious lapse\u201d and imposing a long list of church activities from which the defectors will be excluded.\u00a0 \u201cUnbaptized\u201d persons cannot,<\/strong> for example,<\/p>\n