A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Dublin has stated that it will
keep a register of those who advise that they wish to formally defect
from the church, following changes in the code of Canon Law which mean
it is no longer possible to formally defect from the church.
In recent months, the CountMeOut website had been running
has assisted people with formal defections from the church in Ireland.
However this week it has been reported that this website has had to
suspend its activity on a temporary basis following changes in the Code
of Canon Law.
The church modified certain elements of its Canon Law in relation to
its recognition of mixed faith marriages removing all references to the
act of formal defection.
In effect, this change to Canon Law means that
any amendment of the baptismal register in response to a defection
request no longer changes a person's relationship with the church.
In a statement this week the Archdiocese of Dublin said, “The changes
to Canon Law did not alter the fact that people could defect from the
church albeit not through a formal process.”
However, as an alternative to the formal process the archdiocese said
it, “planned to maintain a register of those expressing a desire to
leave the church.”
SIC: CIN/IE