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Permalink Reply by Garrett Gulliksen on June 2, 2011 at 3:40pm

ive been contemplating that myself, i feel it is very hypocritical to stay on the rolls of the catholic church when i dont share the beliefs. I have heard that they make it very difficult to leave.

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Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on June 2, 2011 at 3:52pm

I imagine their priorities are to keep people tithing at the least, and if failing that, keep the membership numbers high on paper.  I wonder if you can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau in these cases.

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Permalink Reply by Kirk Augustine on June 2, 2011 at 10:33pm

Probably could if it was not for that damn wall. I am becoming more and more convinced that the separation of church/state does more harm than good in these instances.

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Permalink Reply by Justin on June 2, 2011 at 3:43pm

I asked my former church, they said they would not take me "off the books" so when they report the numbers i'm still counted. i don't really think they give a crap if you want out. Though one of the old priests said he blessed my decision to come to my own view. so that was weird and awkward but sorta amusing.

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Permalink Reply by Garrett Gulliksen on June 2, 2011 at 3:50pm

yes its all about numbers to these clowns. as long as they can claim you as a christian or jew they could give a crap if you actually believe it.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Irvine on June 2, 2011 at 3:52pm

The catholic church have a procedure for quitting, they have to let me, even if they put up a fight. Quite frankly, a fight might be fun.

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Permalink Reply by Kirsten on June 2, 2011 at 4:01pm

Man, now this is something else I need to do... They probably still have me down on role somewhere. Ugh.

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Permalink Reply by Anna on June 2, 2011 at 4:19pm

I have yet to do this (the deacon at my parent's church is considered my god father), but the experience varies.  Option three does happen but it's got some random name that really isn't that much.   I think it's becoming more common just in hopes that people will say they are too busy and drop the defection.  I do wonder how many times they say it's done and leave you mostly alone but "accidentally" skip a skip and you are still counted.  This is why I don't trust numbers of members (but other church records are a researcher's best friend.

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Permalink Reply by Kirk Augustine on June 2, 2011 at 10:36pm

I had been thinking about doing this as well. I wonder what other sects of Christianity keep names on the books after one of theirs has fallen. If someone has switched from Catholicism to Baptist to Evangelical, are they being counted by three different faiths?

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Permalink Reply by Bryan B on June 3, 2011 at 12:31am

I was a member of the Anglican Catholic Church, do you have to actively leave them too?

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Irvine on June 3, 2011 at 5:11am

As far as I know, all catholic/christian denominations keep records of baptisms and you should be able to 'leave' the same way I am doing.

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Permalink Reply by looch on June 3, 2011 at 6:40am

I didnt even know that you could officially do this! Ive been an athiest for years but i'll still be on the catholic books then. How do you go about doing this? where do you get the papers from etc?

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