I’m one very disgruntled and estranged member of the Catholic church–so disgruntled, in fact, that I really don’t want to be counted as a member. How can I get excommunicated? I assume it’s not as simple as writing a letter (though this probably only means the church is more bureaucratic than most mail-order CD clubs). How can I make my intentions known to the right offices?
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I think you fail to grasp the concept here, bubba. The purpose of excommunication isn’t to allow you to quit or make a political statement or what have you. It’s to allow the church to throw you out. If you’re already out–that is, if you don’t partake of the sacraments or otherwise participate in Catholic activities (I assume this describes your situation)–excommunication is likely to strike church authorities as a waste of good holy water.
Strictly speaking, excommunication does not render you a non-Catholic. It merely means you’re a Catholic who’s been damned to hell. What’s more, it isn’t intended to permanently separate you from the church; rather, it’s a “medicinal” procedure, meant to make you see the error of your ways. If in fact you do become reconciled later, you won’t be rebaptized, just forgiven. In the eyes of the church, once a Catholic, always a Catholic. Irritating, I know, but as I say, this wasn’t set up to accommodate you.
