How to apostatize in Spain

abandon the catholic faith officially it is (or should) be possible. The process of apostatizing It is not the easiest thing in the world, but it is an increasingly frequent procedure, according to the associations that advise on the matter. Many people decide to be consistent and ‘leave’ the Catholic Church, because they do not feel that this is their place.

In Spain, the population that defines itself as Catholic does not reach 60%, and almost half say they are not practicing, according to the CIS. In fact, only 10.6% go to mass on Sundays.

If we go to the definition, the apostasy it is to “officially” reject the faith professed until then. In Spain, apostasy is a right contained in Organic Law 7/1980 in its second article, section a): “[el derecho de toda persona a] to profess the religious beliefs that they freely choose or not to profess any, change their confession or abandon the one they had, freely manifest their own religious beliefs or the absence thereof, or refrain from declaring about them”.

The Union of Atheists and Freethinkers has on its website a summary of the history of apostasy in Spain and how the Church has reacted to this movement over the years. On its page one can also download a self-created ‘certificate of apostasy’, in the absence of any type of document that proves the resignation from the Church once the procedure is approved, as we will see later.

How to apostatize in 2022

1. Fill out a sample letter requesting apostasy (like this one, for example http://ateos.org/docs/Formulario_apostasia_2011.pdf) and send it by certified mail to the headquarters of the diocese to which the place of your residence belongs, indicating on the outside of the envelope “Reference: apostasy”. send too

– Photocopy of the certified ID

– Certificate of registration (better to attach it just in case)

– Sometimes they will tell you to send a copy of your baptismal certificate, but it should not be necessary because this is information that is already in their possession.

2. One month after sending the request, go to the parish where you were baptized to check if in the margin of observations (marginal data) they have noted your will to apostatize.

Apparently the experiences are different according to the dioceses, so much so that on the internet there are forums in which information is exchanged on how to do it depending on the place, estimated deadlines and advice. For example, in some points you have to go in person, in others the will to apostatize can be communicated without problem, while they advise not to do so in others to avoid moral talk.

What are the consequences of falling away?

– You cannot be godfather or godmother at weddings, baptisms or confirmations.

– You cannot get married in the Church.

– You cannot belong to any brotherhood or Catholic association of the faithful.

– You will not be able to receive church funerals (death rites).

The church keeps the data of the apostate

One of the great controversies around apostasy in Spain lies in the fact that baptismal books lack the character of data files, so they should not be governed by the Organic Law on Data Protection and the Church has no obligation to delete the data of the person who apostatizes. That has a lot of relevance at a statistical level, for example.

In fact, this is precisely the [[LINK:EXTERNO||| https://www.flooxernow.com/noticias/apostatar-espana-experiencia-muy-religiosa-tenemos-prueba_20170209589c28b00cf207e09645bcad.html |||respuesta que se obtiene en múltiples ocasiones]]in the process of apostasy: we have received your request, but “the sacramental books are regulated by the Code of Canon Law. […] We understand that the aforementioned Law 15/1999 is not applicable and therefore no opposition, cancellation, rectification of their entries in the corresponding parish books“.