Process to Leaving Catholica Church

dglancy

Hello,

I was baptised 30 years ago into the catholic church (at the age of 4 months) without my consent - as I guess most people in Ireland were!

I was wondering if there is a formal application process through which I can leave the catholic church ?

Will the church issue me with a certificate stating that I am no longer a member of the church ?

Damo

Excelsior

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=232928

I would argue nothing can be done without your consent at 4 months since you didn't have consent.

If you aren't a Roman Catholic anymore, then just don't be a Roman Catholic anymore. Baptism is not, as many seem to think, an initiation into the church. Your parent's faith was an initiation into the church and baptism is a Christian sacrament that can either be rejected or accepted by conscience. There is no need for a certificate for you to no longer be Catholic.

Basically, you can't be unbaptised.

robindch

> Will the church issue me with a certificate stating that
> I am no longer a member of the church?

It seems that you can contact your ex-Parish priest and request something a bit like the 'letter of freedom' used in marriages, but related specifically to your abandonment of catholicism. My ex-flatmate did it a couple of years ago and got back, a week or so later, a cringe-inducing, pompous, but hardly unexpected, letter from the priest who made it quite clear that he thought my friend was a fool.

Having said that, though, frankly, it's probably less stress all 'round just to stop turning up at your local religious outlet. You're sunday mornings will become a lot more relaxing!

If you've abandoned religion altogether, rather than just changing football shirts, you might consider recounting your deconversion story on a relevant website, for example, Positive Atheism, ex-Christian.net, the excellent Freedom from Religion Foundation, or Steve Locks' page. There doesn't seem to be any equivalent Irish websites.

Manach

While I regret your decisoin the leave the Catholic Church I wish you well in your future path. I do hope that you can take some of the idealised core messages of that faith with you for whatever you choose.

Rev Hellfire

dglancy wrote:

Will the church issue me with a certificate stating that I am no longer a member of the church ?

I'm not sure if you get your deposit back though.

I must say I'm curious as to your motivation for wanting a 'certificate'. Surely a religion is as a faith something you accept or don’t its that absolute, what benefit would a certificate be other than for your own self gratification ?

NeilJ

Regardless of whether or not you still consider yourself a practising Catholic or even a religious individual you're still down in the books as a Catholic. So an individual who has renounced God or converted to a different faith in the eyes of the Church is still a Catholic. This I personally find very grating and believe there should be some way of formally defecting.

Neil

robindch

I can't imagine any church refunding you the cost of the bibles and other paraphenelia that you might have purchased over the years and I don't imagine that the resale value is much either, though it's worth a shot. And as for expecting a refund of all the time you've wasted at the back of religion class drawing pictures. Hardly!

On a separate topic, claiming a belief in christianity can be useful -- amazingly, as I found out last year -- when you're applying for a visa to Saudi Arabia. The religious authorities don't permit stinking atheists to enter the country, and anybody who turns up claiming to be a Jew can expect unpleasant and violent treatment. There you are now, christianity useful after all!

frodi

I did this 17 years ago, I was getting married and the church were putting obligations on my wife to be as they considered me to be a lapsed catholic. I had renounced any beliefs years before this. They wanted to treat us as if it was an inter-church marriage.
So to make things easier for my current wife I contacted Archbishops House in Dublin. I stated my objections to the way that they were treating my wife because they considered me to be catholic. After some rigmarole I got a letter from them acknowledging my renouncement of my baptism.
I was talking to a Monsigneur Stenson at the time. One of his arguements at the time was that I could no more renounce my baptism than I could renounce being born. I retorted that I could always kill myself to renounce my birth so I wanted him to acknowledge my religious sucicide.(sp)
They then said that they were going to treat it as a marriage of a catholic and a non-christian. :mad: They finally relented when they agreed that although I did not believe in christianity I did have a full understanding of what it entailed. (Thanks christian bros! :rolleyes: )

Nevyn

Being down as a catholic on the books also causes problems if you die.
There have a few people that were not clatholics or chirstian for the last 50 years but once they died the church and some of their extended family had them given a very christian burial, much to the shock and out rage of those that new them.

frodi

My sig other knows all my funeral wishes. (there has been three funerals with my family in the last while)
No religion, fry me and then scatter to the wind. If not I'll come back and haunt them!

Nevyn

unless you are married to your sig other your parents are your next of kin legally
and have the rights and say over your body when you die.
You can leave requests in a will but that is all they are requests.

Stabshauptmann

Hmmm. Is there new legislation due regarding marrige and spouses rights. Think I remember something a while ago re:same sex couples.


On a side note I think I need sleep>but Im too tied

I really think its unfair how stubborn some clergy can be but if you look at it from their point of view, you are being given an awful lot and nothing much is being asked of you.
While I dont believe this I understand that they do.

Im a registered catholic, I dont go to mass, i dont believe catholic dogma but it doesnt actually bother me that Im registered as a catholic. Ive no problem going to a church (Ive even read there once to do someone a favour). TBH you shouldnt care about a stupid cert which IMO is nothing more that a bit of one-up manship on your part.

Frodi

Not sure I fully understand your situation but if you want to get married in a church by a priest then its only natural that you'd show respect for that church. If your not a catholic why ask for a catholic wedding?

frodi

[QUOTE=Kaptain Redeye

Frodi

Not sure I fully understand your situation but if you want to get married in a church by a priest then its only natural that you'd show respect for that church. If your not a catholic why ask for a catholic wedding?[/QUOTE]

I didn't care much about being married. I gave my word to my wife and I intend to keep it. She is fairly religious and wanted a church wedding. I was happy enough to pose for the photos and pay the bill. I have no respect for the catholic church (too long a story for here) I do have some respect for some religious that I know as people and who are genuine. How did they get involved with such an ass hole of an organisation.

smidgy

DGlancy - can I have your email address , I would like to mail you regarding your initial post. You can send it as a private message to me if you wish.

fearcruach

This sucks. I view myself as an atheist but i am certain that my family will bury me as a catholic if i were to die. I'm 17 so i have no power to change it. And i'll be really pissed if they bury. (Despite the fact i'll be dead). Whats the point of doing somenthing against their wishes?

Excelsior

If you are an atheist who turns out to be right, you won't have any wishes when they bury you, but certainly your family will gain some comfort from your Catholic funeral and burying.

Even if you wish to maintain atheistic fundamentalism, this shouldn't offend you since you can reassure yourself with a Freudian interpretation of God as a psychological crutch and as such you can console your non-existing dead self with the faith that they are engaging in a socially neccessary grieving process that is a little bit clouded by religious shenanigans.

But then again, none of our families get it right all the time.

iceworm

I dont believe in any form of god or gods any more because my religion teacher is so bad. she shoves god and jesus down your throat and also because i realised there is no scientific proof. she teaches me science as well which i think is a disgrace. worst teacher ever. I also think that religion should not be thought in school. And that the religion books in school today are completely biased towards the christian religion. about three quarters are devoted to christianityand the other quarter is spread out into the other major religions. And if all religions are supposed to be equal in a public school why are the catholics put in one class and the muslims and protestants put into another???????????????if we are all supposed to be thought the same cirriculum. This is hippocracy and its highest and must be stopped :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

ozt9vdujny3srf

iceworm wrote:

I dont believe in any form of god or gods any more because my religion teacher is so bad. she shoves god and jesus down your throat and also because i realised there is no scientific proof. she teaches me science as well which i think is a disgrace. worst teacher ever. I also think that religion should not be thought in school. And that the religion books in school today are completely biased towards the christian religion. about three quarters are devoted to christianityand the other quarter is spread out into the other major religions. And if all religions are supposed to be equal in a public school why are the catholics put in one class and the muslims and protestants put into another???????????????if we are all supposed to be thought the same cirriculum. This is hippocracy and its highest and must be stopped :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Be calm young catholic, you are but a young lamb who has strayed. Gods Shepherd will turn you in the right direction in time, and i know as things stand your faith may be tested, yuo will come to realise that theway of the church is whats best for your soul.

Dades

Excelsior wrote:

If you are an atheist who turns out to be right, you won't have any wishes when they bury you, but certainly your family will gain some comfort from your Catholic funeral and burying.

I agree with this.

As an atheist I'd rather my ashes be scattered to the winds. It's a more pleasant picture to have in your head before you die, rather than getting boxed up and buried.

That said if I died young or before the Missis I guess I'd let them dispose of me in whatever way comforts them. It's often important for some people left behind to have somewhere to "visit" you. And if you're a genuine atheist you'll be happy in the knowledge it won't concern you.

Though I have stated if I have to get interred, which Hawaiian shirt I'm to wear.

iceworm

Carl Scary Magician wrote:

Be calm young catholic, you are but a young lamb who has strayed. Gods Shepherd will turn you in the right direction in time, and i know as things stand your faith may be tested, yuo will come to realise that theway of the church is whats best for your soul.

no way dont tell me what to think its quite possible that i will but from where im standing now there is know way

UU

I was also in the unlucky catagory of being baptised Catholic but there are possible ways of denouncing your faith. The easiest is to become a part of another faith as the Church but if this doesn't appeal to you seek an annulment like for a marraige. The benefit of an annulment is it's like your Catholic faith never existed. I changed to Unitarian Universalism which doesn't require baptism, (more of an option) because I don't accept the Trinity, I disagree with the Church's views on homosexuality, women, etc. and I will leave in my will that I wish to have a Unitarian funeral.
P.S.Also, stating your religion in the Census doesn't do anything for your name in the Catholic registers.

Nightwish

According to a document issued from the Archbishop of Dublin to a man in a similar situation in 1992

"Loss of faith, for example, does not result in loss of membership. Th Catholic Church still holds jurisdiction over all those baptised in th Catholic Curch or received into it...It by no means follows that because the subject is instrumental in forging membersip that he also has the capacity to dissolve it"

There is however a way to get out-by making a

" formal act of defection by uttering heretical pronouncements or by notorious rejection"

This means making a

"hostile repudiation of Cathloicism" in public. The paper also states the best way of renouncing membership of the Cathoic church was to "tender an application informing or requesting Church authorities of departure"

After which the Church launches

"an investigation to determine what weight should be given to the application...this would normally involve requesting an interview with the applicant...in the coure of which one could discover whether or not the request is genuine, or that of a disturbed or perhaps annoyed person"

arctic lemur

I left the Catholic church and converted to the Church of Ireland. All I did was sign a document to join the general vestry. As a person who has a degree in Theology, baptism can never be repeated. You are baptised into the universal christian community. I wish everyone all the best in trying to find spiritual fulfillment where ever life takes them.

Hagar

fearcruac wrote:

This sucks. I view myself as an atheist but i am certain that my family will bury me as a catholic if i were to die. I'm 17 so i have no power to change it. And i'll be really pissed if they bury. (Despite the fact i'll be dead). Whats the point of doing somenthing against their wishes?

If your family won't respect your wishes to be buried in an atheistic fashion they are just being selfish. If they died before you, would you be justified in denying them a christian burial? I think not. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander as my granny always said.

I would advise all atheists to make their wishes known formally to their solicitors and have a clause in their wills cutting out anybody who goes against them. You would be amazed to see how many god-botherers will respect you wishes when there's a few spondulicks involved.

As for leaving any church just give back your magic decoder ring and "get out of hell" card. You won't be needing it. There is no hell. There is no eternal damnation. Its just a pathetic attempt at exerting power over people.

jill_valentine

I know it might seem dumb, but for some people it is important to get... closure? I'm an athiest, frequently an angry one, but as long as I'm technically Catholic I do feel like there's something niggling and unresolved in my life. Given my ongoing beef with how the Catholic Church operates in Ireland, I hate the idea that they can make any claim over me, no matter how silly. I mean, I know they don't sit around gloating over my baptismal cert, but I'd still like to formally sever all ties. Why does a woman revert to a maiden name after a messy divorce?

rsynnott

Hmm, I wonder how the Data Protection Act affects this? Surely, you have the right to demand removal of records held on you.

TakeDown247

Just wondering if you get your name struck from Church records
Are you still Baptised? because another website said that nothing can be done without consent (Which I agree with) and that like me if you had your name stuck your no longer Baptised but like anyone else you has never been Baptised? I know i'm not Roman Cathoic anymore

Excelsior

Roman Catholic theology on baptism would say that it can only ever happen once and it applies forever because it isn't about you or your parents or your priest making a declaration but about God making a move.

So, if your name is struck, they still hold you as baptised. But once again, if you are an atheist, what do you really care if some old guys in Drumcondra think that a non-existent God really loves you?

bonkey

Rev Hellfire wrote:

I must say I'm curious as to your motivation for wanting a 'certificate'. Surely a religion is as a faith something you accept or don’t its that absolute, what benefit would a certificate be other than for your own self gratification ?

In Ireland, marriage (and perhaps the education of your children) may be two issues.

In Switzerland, you actually pay a percentage of your taxes to your church. If you wish to change your declared religious status (including becoming atheist or agnostic) then you need paperwork to show you have formally left your church.

jc

TakeDown247

Hagar wrote:

If your family won't respect your wishes to be buried in an atheistic fashion they are just being selfish. If they died before you, would you be justified in denying them a christian burial? I think not. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander as my granny always said.

I would advise all atheists to make their wishes known formally to their solicitors and have a clause in their wills cutting out anybody who goes against them. You would be amazed to see how many god-botherers will respect you wishes when there's a few spondulicks involved.

As for leaving any church just give back your magic decoder ring and "get out of hell" card. You won't be needing it. There is no hell. There is no eternal damnation. Its just a pathetic attempt at exerting power over people.

That's a good point mean I wouldn't want a Catholic Funeral but my family would want to go agaist it, so if you get your name stuck from Catholic church records then as far as I know they won't do you funeral as your not Catholic

Dades

Hagar, you paint a picture of priests fighting over your 'robes' and gleeful relatives itching to inter you and get your assets.

For me it's all about who you leave behind. If it comforts them to have a Christian funeral for you, why not let them have it?

If I died tomorrow my wife and family can have whatever type of ceremony softens the blow for them. On the other hand, if I live to see a few kids grown up then I want to be cremated and spread to the winds.

Either way, if you're a true atheist, whatever they do will make no difference to you.

Hagar

My assets won't keep too many relatives gleeful for too long.:D

I think your hedgeing your bets on the funeral thing though.

TakeDown247

Thing is only you can decide weather your Catholic or not,

But if yu really don't want a Catholic Funeral write to where you where christened and have your name removed from the rolls then when you die and someone tries to get you a Catholic Funeral they will check their rolls see you where not a Catholic and won't bury you problem solved

My assets wouldn't get very far either lol

jill_valentine

So basically, we just have to write to our parish priest and request that we're struck off? Damn, that sounds real unsatisfying.

robindch

> So basically, we just have to write to our parish
> priest and request that we're struck off? Damn,
> that sounds real unsatisfying.

Seems so. A friend of mine did it a few years back and got a frightful letter back from his local (ex-)PP saying that "his god" was a "god of love" and that my friend should consider the wisdom of withdrawing from it. Didn't thank him, though, for his church-plate contributions down through the years, which I thought was a bit ungracious. Your mileage may vary on this one!

UU

So basically you have to contact your initial parish in order to formally leave the faith. I really want to as although I have started practising Unitarianism, I feel in my heart that I want to sever all connections with the Catholic Church. Well, I tried researching on the net for any info but can't seem to find any! Anyone who has any more information on this topic, please post a reply.

TakeDown247

UU wrote:

So basically you have to contact your initial parish in order to formally leave the faith. I really want to as although I have started practising Unitarianism, I feel in my heart that I want to sever all connections with the Catholic Church. Well, I tried researching on the net for any info but can't seem to find any! Anyone who has any more information on this topic, please post a reply.

If I was you I'd write a letter to your initial parish and say that you are now
Unitarianism, and wish not to be know as catholic anymore and to remove your name from the church rolls and write back to confirm that they have done it, by doing that your formally leaving the Roman Catholic chruch

In my letter I put that I don't agree with the catholic view on woman,
Homosexuality, I'm not myself but still don't agree with it, and abortion
mean if a girl is raped and decides to have abortion everyone should respect her wishes and the baby was not meant to be but abortion should not be used carelessly

my inital parish wrote back and said my name was no long on thier rolls and I was not know as a Catholic anymore I had no problem

but really all you would have to say is that you have joined Unitarianism
and your not Catholic anymore and you'd like your name off thier rolls and to write back that they have done that, they should remove your name and write back and say they have done this remember it's your right to have your name removed if you request it

seamus

If you no longer believe in the religion, then sacrament becomes meaningless. Pour water over your head, do some incantations, and voila! you're in your own religion.

The little box on the census where I write "None" is the only official record of my religion afaic.

JCB

jill_valentine wrote:

So basically, we just have to write to our parish priest and request that we're struck off? Damn, that sounds real unsatisfying.

When you are baptised you enter a unique contract with God, not with "the Church" or your local Priest. This idea of being "removed" from the records and that you are now "set free" is complete rubbish. Your baptism happened, like it or not, and you cannot pretend it didn't. Your contract with God is dependent on how you think, not on certificates or documents. Because you are baptised you have the choice whether or not to remain in your faith and you can change your mind, essentially, as often as you like.
In Summary, Atheist = Baptism completely meaningless to you
Christian (Catholic) = Baptism is your starting point to eternal salvation.

God doesn't recognise written "official" documentation, he recognises what you think in your heart.

jill_valentine

JCB wrote:

When you are baptised you enter a unique contract with God, not with "the Church" or your local Priest..

The issue is that I entered into no such contract - a contract requires consent. Since I do not believe in God, this is on par with being told that, at birth I entered into a unique spiritual contract with Big Bird. And I can't get out of that contract, because of course, my baptism in the name of Big Bird is between me and the Big Yellow. So I should just get over it. I should accept that I'm a member of the church of Big Bird until the day I die and beyond, in every sense except that I don't actually worship Big Bird. It's worth saying that this comparison isn't intended to anger or insult Christians - I'm simply trying to show you what it feels like from my point of view.

JCB wrote:

This idea of being "removed" from the records and that you are now "set free" is complete rubbish. Your baptism happened, like it or not, and you cannot pretend it didn't. Your contract with God is dependent on how you think, not on certificates or documents. Because you are baptised you have the choice whether or not to remain in your faith and you can change your mind, essentially, as often as you like.

Again, while I understand this could be hard for a believer to appreciate, it is not my faith. The very fact that it was referred to as my faith is the problem. While I can't, and am not trying to, pretend that my baptism never happened, I simply want an acknowledgement that however well-intended it was, I actively reject what it stands for. I am not a default Catholic. Again, I'd use the example of a woman who's gotten a divorce and reverts to her maiden name - it's an inconvenience to do so, but it's closure she would like to have. And on a shallower level, it's a final, inarguable statement to anybody whom it may concern that I am not an athiest out of sheer apathy.

UU

TakeDown247 wrote:

If I was you I'd write a letter to your initial parish and say that you are now Unitarian, and wish not to be known as Catholic anymore and to remove your name from the church rolls .......

Thank you TakeDown247, you said that you broke free from the Catholic faith also? I hope they will understand and clear my name free from their rolls. Do they send you a long rambling letter as that's what I heard but I suppose as long as your name is officially cleared that is the main thing.

Orginally posted by JCB
When you are baptised you enter a unique contract with God, not with "the Church" or your local Priest......

Well, I can see where you're coming from that but I only view baptism as a sign of joining a faith. I believe every human and creature can be close to God regardless of baptism or faith. I believe God is a powerful spiritual force which lives in each of us. I don't believe in salvation because I don't believe we have to be "saved" as such. The only thing we have to be saved from is ourselves, our impurities. People are born pure and free of sin and the closeness to God in after-life is determined by the life in which we lived. So basically I agree to disagree with you.

I want to break away from the Catholic faith because I simply wish not be recognised as one. I 'm homosexual and can't remain a part of a faith that rejects me and says that I'll go to hell because of my sexuality. God intended for me to be gay so be it. I love Unitarian Universalism because it's a lovely religion who accept me for who I am, not because I'm gay and I believe God loves everyone for who they are. God sees the evil in us but also sees the goodness and gives us signs every day to put us on the right path and to challenge us but it's up to the individual to look at these signs and act upon them. I also don't agree with the RC Church's views on abortion, women, other faiths (particulary Paganism), etc.

Asiaprod

Originally Posted by JCB
This idea of being "removed" from the records and that you are now "set free" is complete rubbish. Your baptism happened, like it or not, and you cannot pretend it didn't. Your contract with God is dependent on how you think, not on certificates or documents.

I go away for a nice weekend and look at the interesting post I come home to. Unfortunately, as quoted above, this is the reality of the situation. Once they wash your hair, it remains washed for ever.
As a convert to Buddhism from RC I am also in the same situation. However, since I no longer believe in the RC faith, it was all water under the bridge. I am what I am and any name on any register was worth no more than the price of the ink it was written with. However, I do now see that this may not be the case. There are in fact many legal issues which need to be addressed, issues I never stopped to think about.

Since we are talking law here, and not sour grapes, it would be interesting to see what the Church`s response would be if one were to go to a lawyer and have them write an official letter threatening legal action if one`s name were not removed from the registers. If it were to happen, I am sure he floodgates would open. The more I think about it, the more I do actually see this happening in the future. Does anybody on the board know of this being attempted, and if so, what were the results?

rsynnott

Asiaprod wrote:

Since we are talking law here, and not sour grapes, it would be interesting to see what the Church`s response would be if one were to go to a lawyer and have them write an official letter threatening legal action if one`s name were not removed from the registers. If it were to happen, I am sure he floodgates would open. The more I think about it, the more I do actually see this happening in the future. Does anybody on the board know of this being attempted, and if so, what were the results?

You wouldn't even need a lawyer; you could simply make a request under the Data Protection Act. I can't see how they can claim that it is necessary for them to retain a record of your existance.

TakeDown247

You can have your removed your the Churchs record because i've had my name removed over beliefs I didn't agree with,
My Parish Priest wrote back and just said"
Thank you for informing me that you longer wish to be Catholic and for your name to be kept out of your Parish records I reasure you your name is no longer on our Parish records" he wasn't nasty about it at tall

but I guess some Priest might be awkward
if they are don't give up as it's your right
to say where information about you is held
and remind them of the Data Protection Act

Just to say it's not God or Jesus I've got a problem with
in fact i'm learning more about them it's just Catholic views I don't agree with

U$ername

UU wrote:

.....I 'm homosexual and can't remain a part of a faith that rejects me and says that I'll go to hell because of my sexuality. God intended for me to be gay so be it. I love Unitarian Universalism because it's a lovely religion who accept me for who I am, not because I'm gay and I believe God loves everyone for who they are......

Hmm, the bible doesnt say much on homosexuality other than this which you should find very interesting. I am kinda worried about you picking a religion because its "lovely", if you are afraid of going to hell then you need to be a Christian, and you dont need a church for that.

Jesus Christ wrote:

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:9

I could be wrong though.

UU

U$ername wrote:

Hmm, the bible doesnt say much on homosexuality other than this which you should find very interesting. I am kinda worried about you picking a religion because its "lovely", if you are afraid of going to hell then you need to be a Christian, and you dont need a church for that.

I'm not worried at all about about going to hell because the simple reason is I do not believe in a hell. The Jewish Torah and the Christian Bible say a lot more on homosexuality than that. I chose the noun "lovely" for Unitarian Universalism(UU) because I think that's what it is and much more. Out of every Christian church, both Protestant and Catholic, UU is the only church I felt close to - everyone is welcome, there is no dogma that tries to rule our lives, everyone can have diverse beliefs and I think I've found my spiritual home. So the answer is I don't NEED to be Christian because I've found something far better and valuable to me, in my opinion.

I don't believe my sexual orientation will determine my destiny in afterlife but my good and bad acts in life will nor do I believe that an atheist will be damned. In many senses I'm a humanist and a bit of everything else who believes in a god of some sort. To me, religions are a "pick and mix", you can either choose the set menu or the buffet and I chose the buffet!

As for the purpose of this thread, I will leave the Catholic Church as it is my right to do so. I was baptised as a baby against my free will and consent and wish to severe all possible ties with them.

OilBeefHooked2

dglancy wrote:

Hello,

I was baptised 30 years ago into the catholic church (at the age of 4 months) without my consent - as I guess most people in Ireland were!

I was wondering if there is a formal application process through which I can leave the catholic church ?

Will the church issue me with a certificate stating that I am no longer a member of the church ?

Damo

are u an aetheist or is that assumed?
and if yes then you have nothing to worry about as how can you leave that which you do not believe in in the first place?

maitri

rsynnott wrote:

You wouldn't even need a lawyer; you could simply make a request under the Data Protection Act. I can't see how they can claim that it is necessary for them to retain a record of your existance.

Yes, you just send a formal letter to your local parish asking them to remove you from the lists and explaining shortly why. No problem. Done it myself. (In Norway) My Ma still recon me a catholic - "once a catholic always a catholic" - but thats ok with me.

DublinWriter

frodi wrote:

No religion, fry me and then scatter to the wind. If not I'll come back and haunt them!

Don't forget to carry an organ donar card too. Seriously. I always have one as the first thing you see when you open my wallet.

What really annoys me are the collection envelopes they shove through my door, presuming that I'm a Catholic. You think that the giant pentagram drawn in blood on the front of the house would have made them get the message.

Misty Moon

Very interesting post and something I've been meaning to find out about for a while. It took a long time for me to accept that I've lost my faith in the Catholic Church and Christianity. It has caused some upset with some friends who have a strong Christian faith and that is taking some time to work through as well. I'm not the type to get into a discussion with everyone I meet about my spiritual life but I do feel it is important that my close friends are aware of this very important issue and my views on it. I want them to know that I really have spent a lot of time and energy soul-searching and considering my Christian faith and it is not just that I'm too lazy to bother going to Mass.

I would like to officially remove myself from the church because (a) regardless of my beliefs (as people have said above "how can you leave that which you do not believe in in the first place") there is still what could be called a "paper trail" connecting me to the Catholic Church and I would like that ended, (b) I do not want to be buried when I die and (c) I feel that it is hypocritical to remain affiliated to something I have no belief in and disrespectful to those who do believe in it.

Must find out what the parish priest's name is in the parish I grew up in. The last one ran away with his housekeeper a few years ago.

Asiaprod

Misty Moon wrote:

Must find out what the parish priest's name is in the parish I grew up in. The last one ran away with his housekeeper a few years ago.

Well I must admit, that was a very well thought out post, and I think you deserve some kind of award for the closing statement. That ending will outlive you. I fell around the floor laughing at that one. Thank you for those 5 mins of pure bliss.:)