Irish Catholics go online to lose religion2. Comment #395558 by Danish on July 12, 2009 at 12:01 pm
It's basically the same in Denmark. You become a member of the state church (and thereby pay church taxes) once you are baptized. Luckily, the state church generally does not interfere with neither politics nor public opinion. So I guess for most people the main reason for leaving is to save on taxes.3. Comment #395559 by Beachbum on July 12, 2009 at 12:02 pm
4. Comment #395561 by KRKBAB on July 12, 2009 at 12:04 pm
This sounds like a good idea in respect to demographics. But the surveys in the USA would be a lot more interesting to me if they differentiated between people just jumping ship from one religion to either another religion or woo- based pholosophy AND people who jump ship from a religion and dive straight into the ocean of reality and become atheist/skeptics. THAT would be a real interesting survey to me!5. Comment #395564 by j.mills on July 12, 2009 at 12:12 pm
However, the church will always take the view that there is a permanent bond with anyone who has been baptised because “you can never be unbaptised”, said Long."Because we bullied your parents and their parents into putting you through this before you knew any better, we've got you for life."
6. Comment #395575 by jcs on July 12, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Comment #395552 by Richard Dawkins7. Comment #395578 by cjnkns on July 12, 2009 at 12:41 pm
8. Comment #395581 by Heretic on July 12, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Technically speaking, defecting excludes people from getting married in a Catholic church or having their funeral there, or getting the last rites.
9. Comment #395583 by adamd164 on July 12, 2009 at 12:52 pm
10. Comment #395586 by mcek on July 12, 2009 at 12:54 pm
The funny thing is that the universal Catholic Church has different rules for apostasy in different countries. In Poland for instance it's incredibly tedious and lengthy and an apostasy undertaken in other countries (like Germany) is not considered valid!11. Comment #395588 by Beachbum on July 12, 2009 at 1:01 pm
12. Comment #395590 by Rodger T on July 12, 2009 at 1:20 pm
However, the church will always take the view that there is a permanent bond with anyone who has been baptised because “you can never be unbaptised”, said Long.
13. Comment #395592 by kaiserkriss on July 12, 2009 at 1:28 pm
14. Comment #395599 by Fiesoduck on July 12, 2009 at 1:37 pm
15. Comment #395600 by RightWingAtheist on July 12, 2009 at 1:42 pm
“you can never be unbaptised”, said Long.
16. Comment #395607 by Duff on July 12, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Becoming an ex-Mormon is equally difficult. One must jump through various specific hoops, all of which are design to put you into personal contact with an official of the church who has a personal mission to convince you that what you are doing is going to cause you to be condemned to a fate far worse than hell.17. Comment #395609 by black wolf on July 12, 2009 at 2:16 pm
18. Comment #395615 by Driver on July 12, 2009 at 2:31 pm
19. Comment #395618 by jpgj on July 12, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Germany is not the only country where Catholics are forced to pay religious taxes on the basis of baptismal records.20. Comment #395622 by j.mills on July 12, 2009 at 3:03 pm
21. Comment #395630 by jpgj on July 12, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Comment #395622 by j.mills on July 12, 2009 at 3:03 pm22. Comment #395632 by glenister_m on July 12, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Re: Comment #395552 by Richard Dawkins23. Comment #395633 by NewEnglandBob on July 12, 2009 at 4:50 pm
24. Comment #395635 by Ubiquitous Che on July 12, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I really should get around to doing this.25. Comment #395638 by peahix on July 12, 2009 at 5:07 pm
i find it odd that they say you can never be "un-baptized," especially in light of the fact that in order to re-join the church after defecting, you are required to be re-baptized. why the need to re-baptize unless your original baptism is considered somehow invalid or less meaningful? and if they can re-baptize you, why can't they un-baptize you? not that it really means anything to me at all beyond the simple desire to take an action which would be perceived as "ultra serious" by catholics, in order to better send my message of rejection. to them, it's magic. to me, it's a simple political statement.26. Comment #395639 by JIBJABBER on July 12, 2009 at 5:08 pm
27. Comment #395640 by Goldy on July 12, 2009 at 5:24 pm
28. Comment #395666 by RightWingAtheist on July 12, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Comment #395622 by j.mills on July 12, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Incidentally, what would one have to do to get excommunicated? Clearly Holocaust-denial is insufficient,
29. Comment #395669 by BeyondBelief on July 12, 2009 at 7:14 pm
30. Comment #395670 by bigJ on July 12, 2009 at 7:14 pm
In Alberta there are two school boards: Public (secular) and Separate (RC). You can direct your school taxes to either one but if you are RC, even if you have directed your taxes to the Public School Board, you must attend a Catholic school. Unfortunately, the two boards are enshrined in the constitution.31. Comment #395671 by ChicagoMolly on July 12, 2009 at 7:32 pm
The Most Dangerous Man In Britain Today said:In Germany, and some other countries (I don't know whether Ireland is one of them) people are automatically TAXED for the benefit of the church into which they were baptised!
32. Comment #395677 by mmurray on July 12, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Back in 1970 when I worked in Germany for a few years as a "Gastarbeiter", I was initially forced to pay church taxes. One quick letter to the tax authorities took care of that; my successful action encouraged several co workers to do the same.
33. Comment #395684 by Roland_F on July 12, 2009 at 9:57 pm
In Germany also Evangelicals (Protestant Lutheran) have to pay taxes, usually 9% of the income tax amount.34. Comment #395685 by Goldy on July 12, 2009 at 10:00 pm
35. Comment #395686 by Goldy on July 12, 2009 at 10:01 pm
36. Comment #395687 by ev-love on July 12, 2009 at 10:02 pm
37. Comment #395724 by hungarianelephant on July 13, 2009 at 1:21 am
Campaigners point out that all cemeteries in Ireland accept people of any faith because they are managed by local authorities.
38. Comment #395728 by hungarianelephant on July 13, 2009 at 1:50 am
39. Comment #395732 by JIBJABBER on July 13, 2009 at 2:00 am
40. Comment #395764 by brainsys on July 13, 2009 at 4:02 am
Comment #395632 by glenister_m41. Comment #395766 by Sean on July 13, 2009 at 4:05 am
You pretty much have to be excommunicated.
42. Comment #395773 by Logicel on July 13, 2009 at 4:41 am
43. Comment #395775 by PERSON on July 13, 2009 at 4:44 am
Is this site the work of atheists or evangelicals? De-converting Catholics is on their agenda too.44. Comment #395777 by Tyler Durden on July 13, 2009 at 4:57 am
Is this site the work of atheists or evangelicals?Clear-thinking rational people.
45. Comment #395788 by UncleVanya on July 13, 2009 at 5:29 am
On the countmeout.ie website there is a series of FAQ, one of which is "what age do I have to be£". The question has been put to the Diocese of Cork and Ross, and their answer, apparently without irony, is:46. Comment #395790 by CaptainMandate on July 13, 2009 at 5:41 am
Incidentally, what would one have to do to get excommunicated£ Clearly Holocaust-denial is insufficient,
47. Comment #395792 by CaptainMandate on July 13, 2009 at 5:44 am
48. Comment #395794 by sunbeamforjesus on July 13, 2009 at 5:55 am
1. Comment #395671 by ChicagoMolly on July 12, 2009 at 7:32 pm49. Comment #395800 by Frankus1122 on July 13, 2009 at 6:12 am
Is Confirmation necessary for salvation?
Confirmation is not absolutely necessary for salvation, but it could be seriously wrong to neglect this sacrament because it deepens baptismal grace and brings an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist so complement one another that all three are required for full Christian initiation. Confirmation is also important for the growth of the Church.
50. Comment #395806 by Rich Wiltshir on July 13, 2009 at 6:33 am
"Confirmed" catholics are presumably smaller in number and, so, a less preferred (but more honest) measure of the church's membership, than baptisms.This article is reposted from a website that accepts comments.
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1. Comment #395552 by Richard Dawkins on July 12, 2009 at 11:48 am
Richard
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