Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church considers a lapsed Catholic to be as good as a practicing Catholic. However, many people want to leave the Church, and there are ways to do so. While the act of formal defection from the Catholic Church was abolished in 2009, public or notorious defection from the Catholic faith or communion of the Church is possible and recognized in the 1983 Code of Canon Law. To be removed from the Catholic Church, one must manifest their decision to leave personally, consciously, and freely, in writing, to the competent Church authority. This involves writing a letter to the bishop of the diocese in which one was baptized, providing the date and church of baptism, and asking for an excommunication. While the bishop may make a note of the declaration in the baptismal record, many dioceses will refuse the expungement of their records.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Formal Act of Defection | Abolished in 2009 |
| Informal Act of Defection | Possible |
| Notification | Must be manifested personally, consciously, freely, and in writing |
| Church Authority | Competent church authority, such as the bishop of the diocese |
| Judgement | Authority judges if it is a case of "true separation" |
| Register | Name may be removed from the baptismal register |
| Renunciation | Renunciation can be recorded in a register |
| Excommunication | Possible outcome of defection |
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What You'll Learn
Write a letter to the bishop of the diocese
To be removed from a Catholic parish, one must formally defect from the Catholic Church. While the act of "formal defection" from the Catholic Church has been abolished, public or "notorious" defection from the Catholic faith or communion of the Church is possible and is expressly recognized in the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
If you want to be "officially" removed from the Catholic Church, you will need to write a letter to the bishop of the diocese, most likely the one where you were confirmed or baptized. In your letter, you must state that you are no longer a believer and would like to be excommunicated. Here is a suggested outline for your letter:
Paragraph 1: Introduction and Purpose
In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and clearly state the purpose of your letter. Provide your full name, contact information, and any other relevant personal details, such as your date and place of baptism or confirmation. Express your intention to formally defect from the Catholic Church and request removal from the parish.
Paragraph 2: Statement of Belief (or Lack Thereof)
In this paragraph, explain your current religious beliefs or lack thereof. Be clear and concise about your stance, stating that you no longer identify as a Catholic and do not wish to be associated with the Catholic Church or its teachings. You may also want to mention any specific reasons for your decision, such as disagreements with certain doctrines or moral stances of the Church.
Paragraph 3: Request for Excommunication
Explicitly request to be excommunicated from the Catholic Church. Explain that you understand the consequences of excommunication, including the spiritual penalties and the impact on your ability to receive sacraments or have a Catholic burial. State that you accept these consequences and still wish to proceed with the request.
Paragraph 4: Personal Reflection (Optional)
You may include a paragraph reflecting on your personal journey and experiences within the Catholic Church. Share any relevant experiences or events that have led you to this decision. However, this paragraph is entirely optional and may be omitted if you prefer to keep your letter concise and factual.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion and Gratitude
Conclude your letter by reiterating your request for removal from the Catholic parish and expressing your gratitude for their attention to the matter. You may also want to mention that you understand that your request may take some time to process and that you are willing to provide any additional information or documentation if needed. End the letter with a respectful closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Respectfully," followed by your full name.
Please note that the response outlines a general structure, and you are free to modify or adapt it to fit your personal situation and writing style. The length and level of detail included in each section may vary depending on your specific circumstances and the diocese's requirements.
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Request to be excommunicated
Excommunication is a rarely applied censure in the Catholic Church. It is a "medicinal penalty" intended to invite the person to change their behavior or attitude, repent, and return to full communion. It is not an "expiatory penalty" designed to make satisfaction for the wrong done, nor is it vindictive.
The Catholic Church claims that the penalty of excommunication is biblical, and that both Paul of Tarsus and John the Apostle make reference to the practice of cutting people off from the community to hasten their repentance.
While the act of "formal defection" from the Catholic Church has been abolished, public or "notorious" defection from the Catholic faith or the communion of the Church is possible and is expressly recognized in the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Even defection that is not known publicly is subject to the automatic spiritual penalty of excommunication laid down in Canon 1364 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
If you want to be excommunicated, you can write a letter to the bishop of the diocese (most likely the one in which you were confirmed) and tell them you are no longer a believer and would like to be excommunicated. You can also call the bishop of the diocese in which you were baptized, tell them the date and church of your baptism, and ask for an excommunication.
You can also attempt to trigger an automatic excommunication by committing an act that is specifically punished by canon law with a penalty of automatic excommunication. These acts include:
- Apostasy: The total rejection of the Christian faith.
- Heresy: The obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth, which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith. For example, denying that the Eucharist is the real body and blood of Jesus.
- Schism: The rejection of the authority and jurisdiction of the Pope as head of the Church.
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Formal act of defection
A formal act of defection from the Catholic Church (Latin: actus formalis defectionis ab Ecclesia catholica) was an externally provable juridic act of departure from the Catholic Church that existed between 1983 and 2010. The act was recognised in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which specified that the decision to leave the Church had to be manifested personally, consciously, and freely in writing to the competent Church authority.
In 2006, the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts specified what constituted a formal act of defection from the Catholic Church. However, in 2009, the motu proprio Omnium in mentem removed all mention of formal defection from the canons, and it was confirmed in 2010 that it was no longer possible to formally defect from the Catholic Church.
Despite the abolition of formal defection, public or "notorious" defection from the Catholic faith or communion of the Church is still possible and recognised in the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Even defection that is not publicly known is subject to the automatic spiritual penalty of excommunication laid down in Canon 1364 of the same Code.
To express a desire to defect from the Catholic Church, one can write to the diocese of baptism or the diocese in which one was confirmed, requesting to be removed from their records and expressing their desire to leave the Church. While this will not result in a formal annotation in the baptismal register, some archdioceses, such as Dublin, maintain a separate register of those who wish to defect.
It is important to note that even after attempting to formally defect, the Catholic Church may still consider individuals as members, especially if they were baptised as children. The Church's response to defection attempts has been criticised, and many have called for an official mechanism to record renunciations and provide a formal way to leave the Church.
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Publicly defect
Although the Catholic Church has abolished the act of "formal defection", it is still possible to publicly defect from the Church. Public or "notorious" defection from the Catholic faith is expressly recognized in the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
- Writing a letter to your diocese: You can send a letter to the bishop or archdiocese of your diocese requesting to be removed from their records. In your letter, you can state that you are no longer a believer and would like to be excommunicated. However, keep in mind that some dioceses may refuse to expunge your records.
- Declaring your defection publicly: You can make your decision to leave the Church publicly known through various means, such as posting on social media, writing an open letter, or even putting up a banner, as suggested by a user on Reddit. By making your defection publicly known, you are exercising your right to freedom of expression and consciously separating yourself from the Church.
- Supporting opposing causes: You can actively work against the Catholic Church by supporting causes that they may consider oppositional. For example, you could support LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights, reproductive rights (including abortion and contraception), and organizations that help survivors of religious abuse. By diverting any financial or spiritual support from the Church to these causes, you are directly opposing the Church's doctrines and values.
- Engaging in dialogue and debate: You can publicly defect from the Catholic Church by engaging in open dialogue and debate with other Catholics or clergy members, or even through writing opinion pieces or blog posts. By sharing your reasons for leaving the Church and critiquing its doctrines and practices, you are making your defection known and potentially influencing others to do the same.
- Joining a movement or organization: There may be organizations or movements, such as support groups for ex-Catholics, that you can join to publicly signal your departure from the Catholic Church. These groups can provide community and solidarity, and they may also engage in activism or advocacy that aligns with your values.
While the Catholic Church may no longer recognize formal defection, you can still take a stand and publicly distance yourself from the Church and its teachings. By doing so, you are exercising your agency and making a conscious choice to separate yourself from an institution that no longer aligns with your beliefs and values.
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Deregister as a member with the government
Deregistering as a member of the Catholic Church with the government is a way to formally defect from the Church. While the act of "formal defection" from the Catholic Church has been abolished, public or "notorious" defection from the Catholic faith or communion of the Church is still possible and recognised in the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
In Austria and Germany, for example, if a Catholic does not want to pay taxes to the Church, they can de-register as a member with the government. This is a simple process, although it does ban them from having a Catholic wedding or funeral. This method of deregistration is legally binding and can be done by sending a letter to the diocese requesting removal from their rolls.
However, many dioceses will refuse the expungement of their records. In such cases, the only way to be removed from the Church's records is by writing a letter to the bishop of the diocese (most likely the one in which you were confirmed) and telling them you are no longer a believer and would like to be excommunicated. This method of defection is more complicated and time-consuming, and most people simply stop attending Mass.
It is important to note that even after deregistering with the government or the Church, your baptism will still be recorded on a parish baptismal register forever, and you will remain a member of the Catholic Church in their eyes.
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Frequently asked questions
Although the Catholic Church does not recognize formal defection, you can write to the bishop of your diocese of baptism, expressing your desire to leave. The bishop will then judge if it is a case of "true separation from the constitutive elements of the life of the Church."
Leaving the Catholic Church means you will no longer be entitled to a Catholic burial or receive the sacraments. Additionally, you will be excommunicated, which is an automatic spiritual penalty laid down in canon law.
Yes, a written request is required to manifest your decision to leave the Church. Your letter should be addressed to the bishop of your diocese, and you should provide details such as the date and church of your baptism.
In some countries, such as Austria and Germany, you can simply de-register as a member with the government. This will remove you from the Church's records and exempt you from paying taxes to the Church. However, it will also ban you from having a Catholic wedding or funeral.
Even if you were baptized as a child, the Catholic Church considers you a member for life unless you formally defect. You can achieve this by notifying the bishop of your diocese that you have left the Church and requesting to be excommunicated.
