July 24, 2019
I formally resigned from the Mormon (LDS) church today. (Ironically on Pioneer Day, although in Ohio this means nothing). I also filed my defection from the Catholic church today.
I do not want to be in their records, especially not the Mormon church. In the Catholic church it is impossible to have your name removed once you are baptized, it seems.
“The claim that underlies all of this, a claim most Christian denominations share, is that baptism, once given, can’t be taken back,” said Patrick Hornbeck, chair of theology at Fordham University, a Catholic school. “When a person is baptized, the person always remains, in some way, shape or form, related to the Catholic Church.”
Formal acts of defection were introduced in the 1983 Code of Canon Law to solve a regulatory issue in some Catholic marriages. Unintentionally, that allowed defection for any reason. Pope Benedict XVI closed the loophole in 2010.
In theory, the act appended one’s baptismal record to show that the person no longer recognized church authority. But diocesan responses were inconsistent. Some honored defections, while others considered requests case by case or not at all, Hornbeck said. (Washington Post, October 22, 2018)
I have researched, and I filed my defection anyway. Beware, there is certain wording that must be used. I did receive an email reply stating they are forwarding the notice to the correct office. By any means, however, I am no longer Catholic, or a Mormon, once the letters are received. It’s just up to them to follow through.
My ex used to be a Membership Clerk for our branch of the LDS Church. He told me he has dealt with such letters as mine and that they are usually taken care of in a timely manner. I will receive a letter from Church Headquarters stating my request has been taken care of.
Here is a good site to review the resignation process of the LDS church – https://www.exmormon.org/remove.htm
For instructions on filing a Defection from the Catholic church – https://www.atheistrev.com/2010/05/how-to-leave-catholic-church.html
More on why I waited so long to file later.

