Leaving the Catholic Church: Count Me Out

[Xeno]

I am really not sure it matters too much DD. Churches can wet their cassocks with excitement at their numbers but governments and less unintelligent industries normally go on Census figures rather than church rolls.

[DanDare]

Originally Posted by Xeno

I am really not sure it matters too much DD. Churches can wet their cassocks with excitement at their numbers but governments and less unintelligent industries normally go on Census figures rather than church rolls.

True, although that's not much better.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by The Irreverent Mr Black

Wow, Matthew, you read a lot into it!

I was simply remarking on a resemblance others have noted:

Ha yeah I tend to do that a lot.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by muddabikes

@MatthewM

I did have a small measure of success with getting some formal recognition from the cattle-ticks regarding my foolhardy desire to leave the promise of etenal life behind.

I contacted the arch-bishop's orifice here in Sunny Perth to enquire about getting excommunicated and was told I had to contact the local parish where my sorry arse had been saved for all eternity with my baptism.

I dutifully sent orf a couple of emails to said local parish priest and after a bit of prompting finally got a reply full of what I expected. A few more emails and a conversation with his boss in Gerladton finally got him to comply with my request and he sent me a copy of the baptismal register with a note recorded next to my entry to say that I no longer considered myself a catholic etc.

The whole process only took about three months and a couple of really fun emails where I didn't hold back much.

I'm pushing him now to get myself automatically excommunicated which I can apparently have happen to me because, horror of horrors, I actively participated in procurring an abortion. Guess that'll be hell for me then? At least I'll have heaps of priests to join me there for the comic relief!

Haha

That is more reassuring to learn. At least you achieved some form of de-Catholicising as it were.
Unfortunately I am not a doctor and cannot procure abortions.
I think going from your experience the first step is to get into contact with the place you were baptised, and I guess I will do that soon.

Is what happened to you official or was it just some kind of hollow gesture that doesn't actually mean that you were removed?

Even still it seems like a massive sham to me because it appears as if you don't actually get properly removed from the church, just that you think you are.

All I want is one of those things you get at the bottom of emails sometimes where it says "If you wish to unsubscribe yourself from these emails please click here:" but it doesn't seem like I can get that.

[wolty]

Originally Posted by MatthewM

All I want is one of those things you get at the bottom of emails sometimes where it says "If you wish to unsubscribe yourself from these emails please click here:" but it doesn't seem like I can get that.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was that easy? Hope all goes well MM.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Logic please

the presumptous arrogance of blithely assuming continued allegiance in the face of explicit denials of same, really shits me. Especially when those same dodgy membership numbers are used as an argumentum ad populum for their self-serving *pronouncements*

Originally Posted by DanDare

Actually its a political scam. the church goes around claim what a huge following it has and how countries are catholic countries because of their huge following.

I completely agree with both of you. I just despise it to the nth degree. Yet, because they have so many supposed members and still so much wealth and power we can't change the way they operate. It's just intellectual hubris and they don't even care!

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by gruber

ive got a friend on facebook who was giving updates on his attempts at that ex-communication fun thing. He got a reply stating that even if you get refused communion, its impossible to get yourself removed from their list of basptised people

I have heard about that. That is because the church has two things, i've heard, excommunication and defection. Defection is what I want. I am pretty sure it is the closest thing you can get to leaving officially. But now they have got rid of defection, those slimy, wily connivers.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Xeno

I am really not sure it matters too much DD. Churches can wet their cassocks with excitement at their numbers but governments and less unintelligent industries normally go on Census figures rather than church rolls.

I know, it is funny. I am an atheist and believe in none of their tenets, yet I care about their stupid canon law. It's just that I don't want my name written anywhere in any Catholic Church, in any registry and on any member list. I just don't want my name anywhere near there and that's all I care about.

I mean it's things like these that push you even further away from religion in general. It's clear why they changed the rules recently. They know that more and more people want to leave the church either to protest against their treatment of abused children, homosexuals, women etc., leave for another religion or like me leaving religion altogether. They can see this mass exodus and their response is to simply not let it happen officially. It just gripes me so much.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by wolty

Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was that easy? Hope all goes well MM.

Thanks, I wish it was too.

Originally Posted by The Irreverent Mr Black

@MatthewM: What's more widespread than the catholic franchise, and yet you could start a Facebook group on it?

(I may have tipped you off).

Hahaha yeah true, it's pretty safe to say that "Kate's Party" and "forgot my number" groups are more popular right now with the young-uns than wafer biscuits.

[Xeno]

FWIW, I wonder what angricans do (or don't)? They have no significant excommunication anyway, and would most probably say, "Well, if you din't like us then don't go to church, dear chap."