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This is an advocacy piece as to why you should get yourself excommunicated if you have not already done so. Most of the advice herein is in regard to Roman Catholic excommunication. If you need advice for some other church my address is:
ai815@freenet.carleton.ca (Greg Erwin)
President, Humanist
Association of Ottawa
The Roman Catholic Church apparently does not excommunicate its members easily. They say that the reason for this is to leave the way open for reconciliation. However, their thinking is based on irrational belief and is motivated by fear, and they assume that you are the same. They believe that you will react as they do to the fear of death, and wish to deny reality and embrace an illusion. Even more important, by never giving up a member, the church is able to claim millions as members, who do not accept its doctrines, who never attend, who never contribute money or time and who are, in fact, opposed to what it stands for. This greatly enhances its power.
If you were ever baptized a Roman Catholic, and have not been excommunicated, you are still counted as a member. If you do not wish to contribute to the power of the Roman Catholic church, you may want to get yourself excommunicated.
How do you get excommunicated?
As of 1983 there are nine canons under which excommunication can take place. Five of them only apply to priests or bishops. One of the others is physically attacking the pope, and criminal acts can hardly be recommended. Another is 'violation of sacred species', normally called desecrating a consecrated host. It is hard to imagine doing this without committing a criminal act and it would
certainly deeply offend almost everybody. Next to last is 'procuring of abortion'. Excommunication for this is supposed to be automatic, but it only applies to the doctor and the woman involved. I am told the church does not seek out such cases. In any case one would hardly choose an abortion solely for the sake of excommunication.
This leaves canon 1364, section 1 'Apostasy, heresy, or schism'. This involves automatic excommunication, if you can convince the church that it applies to you. The most common usage of this canon is when a former Catholic embraces another religion. Obviously, if you are now a Muslim, a Mormon or a Jehovah's Witness, you are automatically no longer a Catholic.
It is your task to convince the church that you, as an atheistic secular humanist, are in the same 'non-Catholic' category as a Muslim or Buddhist.
In your favor is a nineteenth century ruling which stated that 'those who make a public renunciation of all religion may be subsumed under this category [apostates].'
You will need to write a letter to your current parish. It should include the necessary information to meet all of the criteria for deserving to be excommunicated.
The church's criteria for meriting excommunication. The church is patronizing to atheists. They can easily recognize another superstition, but, being unfamiliar with rationality, they have difficulty accepting the decision to
renounce all mumbo jumbo. They have, however, officially established these criteria for judging all cases of excommunication:
You must act. Mere thought is not enough. You should be able to cite memberships in freethought and humanist groups. You should cite actions you have taken, such as, letters written, demonstrations attended, meetings attended, magazine subscriptions, etc.
You must be persistent. This must take place over a long period of time. If at first you don't succeed...Cite long commitment, and keep trying and keep writing.
You must be contumacious. As in: I am firm, you are contumacious, he is pig-headed. Do not waver or indicate any hesitation. It is not necessary to be
impolite, but do not be unclear in your condemnation of Catholicism in order to avoid offence.
You must be aware that this involves excommunication. For them, ignorance of canon law is an excuse. State in your letter that you are aware of this, that you know what the consequences are and that this is what you wish to happen.
You have to be a Roman Catholic. Obviously. In your letter, make them aware of this by telling them the parish where you were baptised and the date.
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