Without having seen the actual wording or effect of the policy, the basic proposition that baptism is an indelible mark is just good theology. As an Episcopalian who believes the Creeds, I believe in "one baptism for the forgiveness of sins"—if you've been baptized with water in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you're marked as God's own, whether you like it or not. Probably the best way of defecting from the RC Church is just to vote with your feet and ignore it and do something else—it's worked for millions of Americans, including tens of thousands of Episcopalians.

Mike Lockaby

When I left the Roman Catholic Church some 14 years ago, I never bothered with the formalities, but once I joined the Episcopal Church, I was automatically excommunicated, since, according to RCC canon law, I was a heretic and an apostate. Not too much different, really.

Regarding the mark of Baptism, I believe it to be indelible.

June Butler

Episcopal pastors occasionally get requests from RC pastors for a proof of baptism (so that an Episcopalian can marry a RC, etc.). Will this ruling result in a need for rebaptism in the RC before an Episcopalian can marry a RC, or perhaps that baptism in an Episcopal church makes you a Roman Catholic? Instant reunification! They have defections now, wait until this silly legalism becomes widely known.
Tom Downs

This is a story about persons who wish to defect from the Catholic Church, not about baptism. The Catholic Church will no longer recognize your expressed desire to no longer be counted as a Catholic by the church.

(Of course there are those who wish to be unbaptized -- but that's not what we are talking about here.)

An analogy would be if you were once a member of the Democratic party and then wished to leave the party. If the party said they will always consider you a Democrat that would be the situation. You may argue why should one care, but then you are questioning their preferences and feelings. That's not something they can control, nor I believe we should question.

We should question why they church has created this lock in?

The irony is that much like the employer who is reluctant to hire if she fears to will be difficult to terminate the employee, this policy could scare off would be converts. Would you join a club that wouldn't let you quit?

The challenge, of course, is the official position (I believe) that the Roman Catholic Church is THE church (the rest of us are just poor imitations) which results in the confusion between baptismal theology (indelible baptism) and polity. Sadly, I've heard too many cases of folks that have left the Roman Catholic Church (i.e., no longer practice Roman Catholicism) but are, it seems, inoculated against joining any other church and so are adrift.

A great way to keep the numbers up and make it look like the church is growing.

When I was growing up I was taught that the Church of Rome operated more as a cult than a true Church of God. This action only reinforces that belief.

Jim McFerrin

Since leaving the RC Church several years ago I have had that decision confirmed again and again and again. Thank God for the Episcopal Church.

I believe this is an attempt to have no paper trail of those who leave the "Holy Roman Catholic Church" over the horrible abuse by Irish religious and priests of children. If there is nothing on paper, it's impossible for a reporter to quote statistics.

The Roman Curia doesn't want people to know they are losing members in such a huge number.

If TEC hadn't cleaned up the membership rolls, no one would know we aren't about 5 million members any more.

Just my opinion.

James Holloway