Leaving the Roman Catholic Church

#15 · 25-10-2008 12:55pm #1

Hi, I'm not sure if this is acceptable in this forum or not. It is not intended to cause debate or controversy.
I just want to know if there is a formal way of leaving the roman catholic church? I no longer want to be considered a member and I am wondering if there is a way of removing myself formally.
Thank you for any help.

Micky Dolenz · 25-10-2008 1:07pm

Just stop going to mass.

#15 · 25-10-2008 1:13pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Just stop going to mass.

Done. But is there an actual ''formal'' way of leaving?

Nerin · 25-10-2008 1:20pm

There are plenty of 'catholics' that don't attend mass. Op,are you looking for excommunication?i don't think they'll do the bell book and candle for you

Joe1919 · 25-10-2008 3:10pm

When a child gets baptised, afaik, this event is registered as a matter of fact. This cant really be undone. It would be absurd to ask for the register to be changed and to say this event never took place. One cannot turn the clock back and undo history IMO. So there's no way out as far as I can see.

Micky Dolenz · 25-10-2008 3:24pm

Joe1919 wrote: »

When a child gets baptised, afaik, this event is registered as a matter of fact. This cant really be undone. It would be absurd to ask for the register to be changed and to say this event never took place. One cannot turn the clock back and undo history IMO. So there's no way out as far as I can see.

Like the mafia :pac:

Hivemind187 · 25-10-2008 3:24pm

Deny the existance of the holy spirit. Encourage others to o the same.

Then let a few bishops or cardinals know. You'll be out on your ear in no time.

(Unless denying the holy spirit thing was changed, I dont keep up with Catholic poltics).

MrPudding · 25-10-2008 3:38pm

Do a search on the A & A forum. There are ways to become delisted, as it were. There is an issue with becoming officially unbaptised, but you can be officially struck off. If I can get over my inherrant lazyness I am going to do it myself.

MrP

coillcam · 25-10-2008 4:01pm

My Dad did this a while back as he's been a Jehovah's Witness for years. Basically wrote a letter to the local parish priest asking to be formally be removed from the church. I asked him to include me on it too as I want no affiliation to any religion right now. I'm not a JW btw, I consider myself non-affiliated to any spiritual belief for the moment.

Priest called him to have a meeting and just asked him what the story was. Priest then had a debate about beliefs and stuff, got angry and eventually said "he'd take care of it". Never got any formal clarification back though.

Run_to_da_hills · 25-10-2008 4:22pm

You can excommunicate your self quite easily by writing a registered letter to Pope Benedict telling him that he is not the "vicar of Christ" and that he is just an ordinary old man dressed up in a religious costume.

I would say over well over three quaters of the country are in your position.

jill_valentine · 25-10-2008 4:30pm

As I understand it, there isn't a formal internal procedure, unless, I dunno, you get yourself excommunicated or something. That takes quite a bit of work though, good old heresy just doesn't grab the headlines it used to in the good old days.

However, generally, if you write to the Bishop of the diocese where you were baptised, you can at least get an acknowledgment of apostasy. Depends on who gets the letter though, a lot of priesty bishopy types aren't terribly accommodating when it comes to this, as you can imagine.

sorella · 25-10-2008 4:48pm

There is I believe a formal rite for leaving the Catholic Church. This came up with someone we knew a few years ago. Let me look it up?

But easier to simply walk away.... quieter, and more Christian and forgiving.

And not a question of undoing a sacrament in any way. After all, trinitarian baptism is accepted by every tradition. Yet also it is for us to ratify and preserve that by our lives and commitment as Christians.

lostexpectation · 25-10-2008 4:53pm

i collected the info here http://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2007/11/leaving-irish-catholic-church-its.html

write to your local bishop and ask for "Defection by Formal Act" fill in the form send it back, they'll note it on the records, you will have officially left,(but they will still claim you) its seems they own your soul.

its like reaper with god.

sorella · 25-10-2008 4:58pm

That is it; thank you.

And no they do not own your soul, unless you allow them to. which many seem to do.

Only Jesus can own your soul, and only if you give it to Him.

And Holy Mother Church is not Jesus

lostexpectation wrote: »

i collected the info here http://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2007/11/leaving-irish-catholic-church-its.html

write to your local bishop and ask for "Defection by Formal Act" fill in the form send it back, they'll note it on the records, you will have officially left,(but they will still claim you) its seems they own your soul.

its like reaper with god.

lostexpectation · 25-10-2008 6:05pm

From AB ECCLESIA CATHOLICA on the vatican website.
ACTUS FORMALIS DEFECTIONIS

Extract
7. It remains clear, in any event, that the sacramental bond of belonging to the Body of Christ that is the Church, conferred by the baptismal character, is an ontological and permanent bond which is not lost by reason of any act or fact of defection.

With this news article confirming the actual view of a bishop on the issue.

Father Kloch explained, “It is necessary to emphasize that an apostate does not cease to be Christian.

jill_valentine · 25-10-2008 6:18pm

But easier to simply walk away.... quieter, and more Christian

OP isn't necessarily remaining a Christian.

lostexpectation wrote: »

i collected the info here http://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2007/11/leaving-irish-catholic-church-its.html

This is really helpful. Cheers!

lostexpectation · 25-10-2008 6:23pm

if its not your soul they refuse to leg go of what is it?

wouldn't walking away be more Christian, quieter, more forgiving?

rainbow kirby · 26-10-2008 12:37am

sorella wrote: »

But easier to simply walk away.... quieter, and more Christian and forgiving.

The question to be asked there is why would someone who is leaving the church *want* to be more Christian about it?

Hell if I wasn't so lazy, I'd go look for a spectacular way to get excommunicated.

CMpunked · 27-10-2008 9:28pm

Ok im confused...

I wasn't brought up as a catholic, i was brought up allowing me to figure out life and i figured it out that for me i believe jesus was christs son, i asked for forgivnesss etc all the rest.

But what was it with catholissim that makes you "Official"?

condra · 28-10-2008 2:28am

I'm a little confused myself, as usual.

What is the practical advantage for an atheist to leave the church "officially"?

Are there any implications for things like ones wedding and funeral arrangements?

What about future offspring, and their education?

I think more atheists would go "official" only they feel that freedom of the mind is probably freedom enough.

jill_valentine · 28-10-2008 2:40am

Comic-Book-Guy wrote: »

But what was it with catholissim that makes you "Official"?

Baptism, it's all formalised and all then.

What is the practical advantage for an atheist to leave the church "officially"?

Are there any implications for things like ones wedding and funeral arrangements?

What about future offspring, and their education?

Don't think there are any practical advantages, to be honest, and I think it may complicate wedding and funeral arrangements considerably. According to http://www.atheistactivist.org/Defect.html...

From that point on a defected person will be deemed unable to participate in any Catholic rituals such as communion, matrimony, or a Catholic funeral.

which is something I'm cool with.

Leaving the Roman Catholic Church

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