How does one go about getting an official excommunication?

[Amsterstorm]

I realized recenty that though i have left the faith, i am most likely still counted as part of my local parish, and i have heard it said that “once baptized a catholic, you are always a catholic in the curches eyes”. I was wondering if there were any official avenues one could take to get a formal excommunication, and if my parish would no longer count me a member. Would the church as a whole? I have heard there are things one can do to be un officially excommunicated, like participating in an abortion, but thats not enough. the church you were born in would still count you a member unless you walked into church in an “i am an abortionist” T shirt or something. I dunno, i suppose its pointless, as i no longer follow the religion, and none of my money or time goes to the church. Its just, every time i hear " there are a billion catholics in the world" i wonder how many of them were just born in the church but no longer follow. I also cringe at the thought of being included in that number. Also, if a lot of us former Catholic, now atheist citizens were to request a formal excommunication it might send a statement to the church.

Sorry for rambling on, and i truly thank anyone who responds for the time and effort they have given my question. In asking, my intent was not to offend, though i realize what i have written could be considered offensive by some. Thank you all again.

Kindest Regards,
Amsterstorm

 

[Dale_M]

Amsterstorm, I wonder what the point of such an action is. If you don’t identify as Catholic, why would you care whether the Church counts you as a member?

But if you are really, really determined, it is possible to formally defect from membership in the Catholic Church.

The upshot is that in order to formally defect one must:

1) Decide to leave the Church (which supposes an act of heresy, apostasy, or schism),
2) Put this decision into effect ("realize" it),
3) Manifest this decision externally by submitting it in writing to the Ordinary (normally the bishop) or one's pastor, and
4) Get the Ordinary or pastor to agree that you really have performed the act of will to leave the Church described above and thus committed heresy, apostasy, or schism.

It is then to be noted in the parish baptismal register that you have so defected.

jimmyakin.org/2006/04/formal_defectio.html

 

[Corki]

An excommunicated Catholic is still a Catholic.

But, if you no longer want to be “counted,” follow Dale’s steps.

 

[JimG]

An excommunicated Catholic is still a Catholic.

But, if you no longer want to be “counted,” follow Dale’s steps.

Yes, excommunication doesn’t remove you as a member of the Catholic Church. Your baptism makes you a member. And you can’t be un-baptized.

 

[Victorious]

I dunno, i suppose its pointless, as i no longer follow the religion, and none of my money or time goes to the church.

You are giving time to the Church right now, by engaging in this discussion.

Also, if a lot of us former Catholic, now atheist citizens were to request a formal excommunication it might send a statement to the church.

Just curious what the statement would be.

 

[TristanCross]

LOL. Excommunication just means you can’t receive the Holy Eucharist.

I’m not sure where you got the information that it meant separated or cut off from the Church, but they totally misinformed you. My Global History teacher, who is a cultural Catholic, even taught that excommunication was separation from the Church.

Anyways, Amsterstorm, before you live your life as an atheist, would it hurt to look into things about Catholicism? Just to “know your options”. Who knows, you might change your mind.

 

[happyconvert]

Amsterstorm, you can leave the church while you live in this world, but some day you will be faced with explaining your desire to be excommunicated to God. Sounds like you consider yourself an Athiest now, so I imagine you don’t think that will happen, but, your eternal destiny is at risk here. I will pray for you.

 

[Luke65]

Also, if a lot of us former Catholic, now atheist citizens were to request a formal excommunication it might send a statement to the church.

I hate to break it to you, but the Church got that statement 2000 years ago…

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

“Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him… Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)

But I trust that you now have the info to properly fulfill the prophecies.

 

[ratpsm]

Yeah, it’s really not as bad as you think. But then again, I don’t know what you think or know, so I can’t make any real judgement calls (judgement, not condemnation, which I’m not condemning you either, I just wanted to state the difference… great now I’m rambling).

But I do know that if you really research Catholicism and look at it objectively and yes, even logically, you can find it truelly insightful and lovely. When you see an arguement, look at it’s counter, it can go on back-and-forth for a while but hey, your putting wrinkles on your brain and learning new things. Oh and I read the Satanic bible and from a non-religious psychological perspective, I can see that the author is using ignorance to feed off of and if you looked into Christianity as a whole and separately (like he failed to do) then you would be able to see all the problems in it. I know that really had nothing at all to do with what you were writing, but I still felt like it was something I had to write for some reason…

I don’t mean to offend, really just to inform.
I hope that you are ok for the rest of your life:thumbsup:, b/c that’s the only word I can think of that wouldn’t offend you… Normally I’d say Blessed and stuff, but I don’t know what your take on that would be. (I’m doing it again… ttfn!)

 

[Dale_M]

Yes, excommunication doesn’t remove you as a member of the Catholic Church. Your baptism makes you a member. And you can’t be un-baptized.

Yes, and the Catholic Church will not strike a name off the baptismal records, although they will add an note mentioning that the person has left the Catholic Church.

As for sending a message, atheist organizations in several countries will provide (for a small fee) a certificate of de-baptism. And here in the US, atheists have taken to performing a de-baptism ceremony, using blow dryer marked “Reason.”
usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-07-21-atheists-debaptism_N.htm

But such things seem a bit silly. If you don’t believe in God, then why would a former baptism matter so much that you need to formally renounce it?