Belgium sees sharp rise in 'debaptism' requests

[Michie]

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

The Catholic Church in Belgium reported on Wednesday a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

The Church’s latest annual report, published on Nov. 30, said there were 5,237 such requests in 2021, compared to 1,261 in 2020 and 1,800 in 2019.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark of his belonging to Christ.” While a person can lapse in the practice of the faith, or even renounce it altogether, it is impossible to reverse the effects of baptism.

Nevertheless, a rising movement in Europe promoting “debaptism” has encouraged Catholics to write to Church authorities asking to be removed from parish baptismal records. The movement is a consortium of several political and philosophical factions among European secularists.

A spokesman for the Belgian bishops’ conference told The Pillar on Dec. 1 that when the Church received a “debaptism” request, “it is noted in the register in the margin that the person has requested to be de-registered.”

“You are not allowed to cross out or delete an entry in an official register,” he explained.

Continued below.

Belgium sees sharp rise in 'debaptism' requests

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

www.pillarcatholic.com

 

[Maria Billingsley]

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

The Catholic Church in Belgium reported on Wednesday a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

The Church’s latest annual report, published on Nov. 30, said there were 5,237 such requests in 2021, compared to 1,261 in 2020 and 1,800 in 2019.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark of his belonging to Christ.” While a person can lapse in the practice of the faith, or even renounce it altogether, it is impossible to reverse the effects of baptism.

Nevertheless, a rising movement in Europe promoting “debaptism” has encouraged Catholics to write to Church authorities asking to be removed from parish baptismal records. The movement is a consortium of several political and philosophical factions among European secularists.

A spokesman for the Belgian bishops’ conference told The Pillar on Dec. 1 that when the Church received a “debaptism” request, “it is noted in the register in the margin that the person has requested to be de-registered.”

“You are not allowed to cross out or delete an entry in an official register,” he explained.

Continued below.

Belgium sees sharp rise in 'debaptism' requests

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

www.pillarcatholic.com

Wow! Never heard of such a thing. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings.

 

[Michie]

Wow! Never heard of such a thing. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings.

You’re welcome Maria!

 

[WarriorAngel]

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

The Catholic Church in Belgium reported on Wednesday a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

The Church’s latest annual report, published on Nov. 30, said there were 5,237 such requests in 2021, compared to 1,261 in 2020 and 1,800 in 2019.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark of his belonging to Christ.” While a person can lapse in the practice of the faith, or even renounce it altogether, it is impossible to reverse the effects of baptism.

Nevertheless, a rising movement in Europe promoting “debaptism” has encouraged Catholics to write to Church authorities asking to be removed from parish baptismal records. The movement is a consortium of several political and philosophical factions among European secularists.

A spokesman for the Belgian bishops’ conference told The Pillar on Dec. 1 that when the Church received a “debaptism” request, “it is noted in the register in the margin that the person has requested to be de-registered.”

“You are not allowed to cross out or delete an entry in an official register,” he explained.

Continued below.

Belgium sees sharp rise in 'debaptism' requests

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

www.pillarcatholic.com

 

[chevyontheriver]

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

The Catholic Church in Belgium reported on Wednesday a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

The Church’s latest annual report, published on Nov. 30, said there were 5,237 such requests in 2021, compared to 1,261 in 2020 and 1,800 in 2019.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark of his belonging to Christ.” While a person can lapse in the practice of the faith, or even renounce it altogether, it is impossible to reverse the effects of baptism.

Nevertheless, a rising movement in Europe promoting “debaptism” has encouraged Catholics to write to Church authorities asking to be removed from parish baptismal records. The movement is a consortium of several political and philosophical factions among European secularists.

A spokesman for the Belgian bishops’ conference told The Pillar on Dec. 1 that when the Church received a “debaptism” request, “it is noted in the register in the margin that the person has requested to be de-registered.”

“You are not allowed to cross out or delete an entry in an official register,” he explained.

Continued below.

Belgium sees sharp rise in 'debaptism' requests

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

www.pillarcatholic.com

One would think that with all the striving of the Church in Belgium (and Germany, and other places in Europe) for relevance that the Belgian Church would be thriving, growing, flush with vocations, building new church buildings, setting their corner of the world on fire for Christ. One would think.

Or maybe questing for relevance is a joke. Maybe they should be questing for faithfulness? Just sayin'.

 

[Brother-Mike]

De-baptism is the Tide Pod Challenge of the nominally religious.

 

[mourningdove~]

The Church in Belgium has reported a sharp rise in the number of people asking for their names to be removed from baptismal registers.

I watched that short video a few weeks ago, about the 'debaptism' public service in Texas.
Was like watching persons stand in line ... to choose hell.

( )

 

[chevyontheriver]

I watched that short video a few weeks ago, about the 'debaptism' public service in Texas.
Was like watching persons stand in line ... to choose hell.

( )

Literally.

 

[Wolseley]

You will cry out in anguish when your end comes,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
and you will say, “How I hated instruction,
and my heart rejected correction!
I did not obey my teachers
and did not listen to my instructors.
Now I am at the point of utter disaster
in the assembly and in the congregation.”
(Proverbs 5:11-14)

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Posting as a guest: How in the world does one "debaptize"? Does removing their names from the registry reverse the action? Isn't that like trying to unring a bell?

 

[Michie]

Posting as a guest: How in the world does one "debaptize"? Does removing their names from the registry reverse the action? Isn't that like trying to unring a bell?

Yes. It’s silly.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

What young people don't understand is that when they were
Baptized as infants, it was out of the faith their parents had.

So, trying to have their names from Baptism Records in the Church
goes against the faith of their parents, not theirs.

 

[Michie]

Baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul that cannot be removed.

 

[Joined2krist]

So sad.

 

[Michie]

So sad.

A piece of paper or removal from baptismal rolls are not going to do anything. Baptized is baptized. Hopefully they will get over the petulant phase and have a change of heart and get back on track!