Why there is no such thing as an 'ex-catholic'

[s_gunter]

Wasn't this particularly due to former Catholics not wanting their tax money to be forwarded to Churches? I know German Catholics did that for that very reason.

From the source I linked, Count Me Out started in Ireland partly as a reaction to the child abuse scandals. It may well have expanded to or even started in Germany itself due to that. Forgive me, I had heard about this (the "resignation letters") years ago, so I don't remember everything about them. I know that atheists use those same "letters" to remove themselves from membership/baptismal records, simply because of their complete unbelief in God.

 

[Rhamiel]

A while back, the Catholic Church was accepting letters of resignation (if you will) from atheists wishing NOT to be on the member's list. What I don't know is if the Catholic Church actually accepted these and struck the names off any membership/baptismal records. Also, would that have actually "un-rung a bell?" How do you say that a baptism never occurred when it actually did?

you can not undo Baptism
it leaves an indelible mark on the soul

but if someone was Baptized and then rejects the faith and goes off to worship Idols or be an Muslim then they are no longer Catholic
they rejected the faith and have a new religion

Caechism of the Catholic Church 2089 "..."Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him."


one analogy that has been used was in the ancient world, soldiers were branded
so Baptism is like a "brand" for Christians, a mark of honor for those loyal, but a mark of condemnation to deserters

 

[topcare]

How if someone is not baptized Catholic.

 

[Rhamiel]

How if someone is not baptized Catholic.

there is one Baptism

so either someone is Baptized or they are not
at least that is how my understanding is

maybe a scholar in Sacramental theology can help more