How do I officially leave the Catholic Church?

If you’ve been baptized in a Catholic church, as I was, the church counts you as a member for life even if you stop attending. The only way to have this reversed is to formally defect, notifying the bishop of your local diocese that you’ve left the church.

How do you get excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church?

Basically, the grounds for excommunication is this: You have committed a grave offense that caused you to be spiritually separated from the Church and the community of the faithful. You have left the Church on your own accord by committing the offense. (But remember, excommunication offers a way to go back!)

Can I renounce my baptism?

Baptism is irreversible. It stamps a particular character upon the soul. A person can renounce their baptism to follow a pagan religion or to deny the existence of God or the divinity of Christ.

Can I request to be excommunicated?

If you want to be excommunicated, you have to go through official channels. Your local priest can’t help you; instead, you must write a letter to your bishop. Tell him where and when you were baptized (they won’t excommunicate non-Catholics).

Can’t You just stop going to church?

Turns out you can’t just stop going. As far as the church is concerned, a lapsed Catholic is as good as a good Catholic unless you resign. Cynical C has uncovered proof of this fun little fact in the form of the following exchange between an ex-Catholic and her Bishop.

What happens to my Catholic baptism if I leave the church?

If you’ve been baptized in a Catholic church, as I was, the church counts you as a member for life even if you stop attending. The only way to have this reversed is to formally defect, notifying the bishop of your local diocese that you’ve left the church. After yet another preposterous moral pronouncement from the pope,…

What is the Catholic Church’s policy on defection?

However, the Catholic church has an odd policy regarding who they consider a Catholic. If you’ve been baptized in a Catholic church, as I was, the church counts you as a member for life even if you stop attending. The only way to have this reversed is to formally defect, notifying the bishop of your local diocese that you’ve left the church.

Is a lapsed Catholic still a good Catholic?

As far as the church is concerned, a lapsed Catholic is as good as a good Catholic unless you resign. Cynical C has uncovered proof of this fun little fact in the form of the following exchange between an ex-Catholic and her Bishop.