My apostasy request
Here is a letter I wrote to my city’s bishop in order to be removed from among the members of the roman catholic church to which I belong since being baptized as a baby. The reason for this letter is that when I asked to be apostatized I was asked to provide justification for this request along with my signature and that of two witnesses. Since they refused to accept my simple and neutral original request and want justification, I sent them the letter below:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Attention: Bishop ———-
I, (my name), born on (date) and baptized at the (name) church, am hereby communicating my request to be apostatized from the roman catholic church. My reasons are as follow:
I think the idea of a supernatural entity which judges our actions, thoughts and other aspects of our lives is horrible and in no way based on the physical reality to which we are exposed every day. Furthermore, I am insulted to be told that an action, gesture or word could offend this creature which, as far as I’m concerned, imaginary and invented by men in order to make up for not understanding the natural world, their own existence and the inability to accept their own eventual death.
I hate the manner in which religion, specifically abrahamic religions, treat homosexuality and people who have an alternate lifestyle from that preached in the bible. I know that not all religious persons discriminate or lack respect toward homosexuals but for someone to use their beliefs to justify harassment, and for that to be openly supported, is abhorrent and should be strictly punished. Even today, religious beliefs lead people to hate gay person who are innocent, in my eyes, of all crimes (except of course if the person is a criminal, naturally). The lack of acceptation of those who are outside the norm shows to what extent religion is not based on tolerance and the universal respect of humanity.
I consider it extremely hateful on the part of the clergy to hide and protect priests who have abused children sexually or otherwise. I find it especially disturbing that the catholic church’s highest authority, the Vatican, has released a direction advising the clergy on how to treat sexual crimes committed by priests and other persons [reference to the “Crimen sollicitationis” directive]. This guide should have been much simpler: Report the person to the civil authorities and let them be punished or treated in the manner considered reasonable by said civil authorities. Personally, I think it would be acceptable for a government to put to death those who severely abuse children, including sexual crimes, as their victims have themselves been deprived of their life by the abuser. Understand that I am not suggesting violence toward the clergy and/or pedophiles here but simply that I believe that any person guilty of a crime should answer for it in front of civil authorities, not religious ones.
I consider the clergy’s opposition to the use of condoms in Africa to be inhuman and repugnant, especially when you think of the extensive damage AIDS causes in that part of the world. Even if faithful persons often believe that contraceptive means are immoral, I find it hypocritical to preach this opposition when it could save so many lives and raise the quality of life of so many poor people. It’s especially evil to use spirituality toward people who are often ignorant about the nature of the disease and superstitious toward methods of protection available. A church that seeks to help the world and not just spread its message at any cost would understand that condoms are one of many solutions against this horrible disease.
To me the bible is a terrible moral guide and its god suffers from the worst flaws of humanity. Even if this god existed, I would refuse to respect it and would wish it a horrible death. I find more moral goodness in my everyday actions than in the entire bible. This book, as much as it can be used for good (and I do not doubt it) contains passages that can be used to support horrible things such as slavery, genocide and the subordination of women. I fail to understand why anyone would want to use such a book as a moral guide.
I support abortion and would not hesitate to suggest it if I made a woman pregnant and if neither of us wanted a child or weren’t ready to have one. I find it perfectly acceptable even if I consider that its use should only be used in the event of an “accident”, for instance if a condom rips during intercourse. [Note: I meant here that people shouldn't consider abortion a primary form of contraception, foregoing the use of a condom knowing that they could abort any unwanted pregnancy]
I do not want my name to be counted as a member of a set of beliefs that I hate and would oppose to my death. I prefer to live a life free of all superstition where reason and logic rule.
I do not by the present declaration intend to shock or insult, as in all areas of life I think the clergy features among its ranks a mix of people, good and bad, honest or not, and in no way do I intend to generalize and say that an entire group is immoral. I simply want to express my opposition toward a group of which I am currently a member simply because I was born in a family and province where in many ways it’s tradition.
Thank you for your attention, I am looking forward to receive confirmation that this request was processed successfully.
(My name and signature)
Signed in —————–, Québec, Canada on (date)
Witnesses
Name: _________________________
Signature: _________________________
Date: _________________________
Name: _________________________
Signature: _________________________
Date: _________________________
