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Introduction

The Roman Catholic Church, with its global presence and significant influence, has been a cornerstone of spiritual guidance and community cohesion for millions of Australians. However, in recent years, the Church has been embroiled in numerous controversies, particularly concerning its handling of child sexual abuse cases ^{1 2 3}. These issues have led to a growing call for mechanisms that would allow individuals or groups to disassociate from the Church. This article explores why Australia should use its parliamentary avenues to provide quick access to the removal of association with the Roman Catholic Church.

The Roman Catholic Church in Australia

The Catholic Church in Australia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the spiritual and administrative leadership of the Holy See. It is the largest Christian denomination in Australia, with a culturally diverse membership of around 5,075,907 people, representing about 20% of the overall population of Australia according to the 2021 ABS Census data. The Church is the largest non-government provider of welfare and education services in Australia ⁴.

Controversies and Scandals

Despite its significant role in Australian society, the Catholic Church has been marred by a series of scandals and controversies. A five-year Australian inquiry in 2017 found that "tens of thousands of children" were sexually abused in Australian institutions over decades, including churches, schools, and sports clubs ⁵. The Australian Catholic Church has released "grim" data revealing 7 per cent of priests, working between 1950 and 2009, have been accused of child sex crimes. The Church has been covering up, ignoring, or transferring abusive priests, failing to report crimes to the authorities, and resisting or obstructing investigations and inquiries.

The Role of Parliament

Australia's parliamentary system is a representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy, and a federation of states ⁶. As such, it has the power to enact laws and regulations that can address the issues surrounding the Catholic Church. The parliament can introduce legislation that would facilitate the process of disassociation from the Church, ensuring that individuals and groups who wish to sever their ties with the Church can do so in a straightforward and expedient manner.

The Need for Disassociation

Many Australians feel a disconnect with the Church due to its recent scandals, creating a crisis of faith, particularly among the youth. Disassociation offers a way for them to voice their discontent and seek alignment with institutions that resonate with their personal values 7.

The Challenges of Disassociation

Currently, the Church does not recognize a formal exit procedure, leaving individuals' names in its records even after they cease active participation. This lack of a formal process can lead to continued unwanted association with the Church ⁸.

This situation may be unacceptable or undesirable for many former or lapsed Catholics, who may wish to sever their ties with the Church completely and definitively.

They may have various reasons for doing so, such as:
   • Expressing their protest or dissent against the Church's doctrines, practices, or scandals
   • Asserting their personal autonomy or identity
   • Respecting their conscience or convictions
   • Protecting their privacy or security
   • Avoiding any legal or financial obligations or liabilities associated with the Church
   • Joining another religious or secular community or organization

The Role of the Australian Parliament

In this context, the Australian Parliament can play a crucial role. As the representative body of the Australian people, it has the power to enact laws and regulations that can address these issues. The Parliament can introduce legislation that would facilitate the process of disassociation from the Church, ensuring that individuals and groups who wish to sever their ties with the Church can do so in a straightforward and expedient manner.

Such legislation could include provisions for:
   • Recognizing the right of individuals to disassociate from a religious institution
   • Requiring religious institutions to respect and facilitate this right
   • Establishing a clear and simple procedure for disassociation
   • Ensuring the confidentiality and privacy of those who disassociate
   • Prohibiting any discrimination or retaliation against those who disassociate

The Path to Disassociation

Many Australians, particularly the younger generation, are questioning their association with the Church. People who were baptized or raised as Catholics have become disillusioned or dissatisfied with the Church, and have decided to leave or distance themselves from it. Some have joined other Christian denominations or religions, while others have become unaffiliated or non-religious. However, leaving the Catholic Church is not as easy as it may seem. The Church does not have a formal or official procedure for renouncing one's membership or affiliation. The Church considers baptism to be an indelible mark on the soul that cannot be erased or revoked. Therefore, even if a person stops believing in or practicing Catholicism, the Church still counts them as part of its flock, unless they are formally excommunicated or join another religion that invalidates their baptism. This means that the Church may still claim to represent or speak for them on various matters, and may still include them in its statistics or records.

The Role of the Australian Parliament

In this context, the Australian Parliament can play a crucial role. As the representative body of the Australian people, it has the power to enact laws and regulations that can address these issues. The Parliament can introduce legislation that would facilitate the process of disassociation from the Church, ensuring that individuals and groups who wish to sever their ties with the Church can do so in a straightforward and expedient manner.

One possible way that the parliament can do this is by passing a law that allows Australians to formally renounce their Catholic baptism and membership, and to request the Church to remove their names and details from its registers or databases. This law could be modeled after similar laws that have been enacted or proposed in other countries, such as Ireland, France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, and Chile. These laws typically require the person who wishes to quit the Church to submit a declaration of defection or apostasy, either online or by mail, to the relevant Church authority, such as the parish where they were baptized or the diocese where they reside. The Church authority is then obliged to acknowledge the receipt of the declaration, and to update its records accordingly. The person who quits the Church is then entitled to receive a confirmation or certificate of their defection or apostasy, and to have their decision respected by the Church and the state.

Another possible way that the parliament can do this is by establishing a national register or database of Australians who have left or renounced the Catholic Church, and by requiring the Church to consult and comply with this register or database. This register or database could be administered by a government agency or an independent body, and could be accessible to the public or to authorized parties. The register or database could collect and store the names and details of Australians who have quit the Church, either by submitting a declaration of defection or apostasy, or by indicating their religious affiliation or non-affiliation in official documents or surveys, such as the Census. The Church would then be obliged to check the register or database before claiming or reporting any statistics or records on its members or adherents, and to exclude or remove those who have quit the Church. The register or database would also serve as a source of information and evidence for Australians who have quit the Church, and who may need to prove or assert their decision in various contexts or situations.

Conclusion

Many Australians, particularly the younger generation, are questioning their association with the Church 8. The ability to disassociate from the Church would provide these individuals with a means to express their dissatisfaction and disapproval of the Church's actions. It would also serve as a powerful statement to the Church that its followers demand accountability and transparency.

The Australian parliament, as the representative body of the Australian people, has a responsibility to address the concerns of its constituents. By providing a parliamentary avenue for disassociation from the Roman Catholic Church, it can send a strong message that the actions of the Church are unacceptable and that individuals have the right to dissociate from any institution that does not align with their values and principles. Such a move would not only uphold the democratic values of freedom and choice but also promote accountability and transparency within religious institutions. It is time for Australia to take a step forward in this direction.

References:
1. theguardian.com Catholic church loses landmark case over tactics that shield it from Australian abuse claims
2. abc.net.au Child sex abuse royal commission: Data reveals extent of Catholic ...
3. en.wikipedia.org Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Australia
4. en.wikipedia.org Catholic Church in Australia
5. bbc.com Catholic Church child sexual abuse scandal
6. peo.gov.au Australian system of government - Parliamentary Education Office
7. abc.net.au Australian Catholics are having a reckoning moment. Here's what young ...
8. peo.gov.au Introducing ... Australia's system of government - Parliamentary ...

Learn more:
9. peo.gov.au What system of government does Australia have? - Parliamentary ...
10. aph.gov.au About Parliament - Parliament of Australia
11. aph.gov.au Parliament Explained Government - Parliament of Australia
12. bing.com Roman Catholic Church in Australia
13. stpatschurchhill.org St Patrick's Catholic Church
14. stpatschurchhill.org St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church
15. catholic.au Catholic Australia
16. australiancatholichistoricalsociety.com.au Controversies and Scandals - Australian Catholic Historical Society
17. abc.net.au Catholic Church-owned insurer says 'high volume' of abuse claims is ...
18. crisismagazine.com The Catholic Collapse in Australia: A Warning to All
19. en.wikipedia.org Christianity in Australia
20. theguardian.com How do you become, formally, not-a-Catholic? You take the law into your ...
21. this.deakin.edu.au Is this the end of Catholicism in Australia?
22. abs.gov.au Religious affiliation in Australia | Australian Bureau of Statistics
23. en.wikipedia.org Religion in Australia
24. abs.gov.au RELIGION IN AUSTRALIA - Australian Bureau of Statistics
25. abs.gov.au Census reveals Australia's religious diversity on World Religion Day
26. ncronline.org The hidden exodus: Catholics becoming Protestants
27. ncregister.com Why Catholics Leave the Church and What Can Be Done About It
28. worldpopulationreview.com Countries Where Christianity Is Illegal 2023 - World Population Review
29. pewresearch.org A Look at Church Taxes in Western Europe | Pew Research Center
30. ncregister.com More Than 220,000 People Left the Catholic Church in Germany in 2020
31. ncregister.com National Catholic Register
32. catholiceducation.org The Reverts: Catholics who left and came back

Submission Form

If you wish to add to the call for this, please fill in the anonymous form below:

1. Would you like to disassociate yourself from the Roman Catholic Church
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References:
1. theguardian.com Catholic church loses landmark case over tactics that shield it from Australian abuse claims
2. abc.net.au Child sex abuse royal commission: Data reveals extent of Catholic ...
3. en.wikipedia.org Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Australia
4. en.wikipedia.org Catholic Church in Australia
5. bbc.com Catholic Church child sexual abuse scandal
6. peo.gov.au Australian system of government - Parliamentary Education Office
7. abc.net.au Australian Catholics are having a reckoning moment. Here's what young ...
8. peo.gov.au Introducing ... Australia's system of government - Parliamentary ...

Learn more:
9. peo.gov.au What system of government does Australia have? - Parliamentary ...
10. aph.gov.au About Parliament - Parliament of Australia
11. aph.gov.au Parliament Explained Government - Parliament of Australia
12. bing.com Roman Catholic Church in Australia
13. stpatschurchhill.org St Patrick's Catholic Church
14. stpatschurchhill.org St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church
15. catholic.au Catholic Australia
16. australiancatholichistoricalsociety.com.au Controversies and Scandals - Australian Catholic Historical Society
17. abc.net.au Catholic Church-owned insurer says 'high volume' of abuse claims is ...
18. crisismagazine.com The Catholic Collapse in Australia: A Warning to All
19. en.wikipedia.org Christianity in Australia
20. theguardian.com How do you become, formally, not-a-Catholic? You take the law into your ...
21. this.deakin.edu.au Is this the end of Catholicism in Australia?
22. abs.gov.au Religious affiliation in Australia | Australian Bureau of Statistics
23. en.wikipedia.org Religion in Australia
24. abs.gov.au RELIGION IN AUSTRALIA - Australian Bureau of Statistics
25. abs.gov.au Census reveals Australia's religious diversity on World Religion Day
26. ncronline.org The hidden exodus: Catholics becoming Protestants
27. ncregister.com Why Catholics Leave the Church and What Can Be Done About It
28. worldpopulationreview.com Countries Where Christianity Is Illegal 2023 - World Population Review
29. pewresearch.org A Look at Church Taxes in Western Europe | Pew Research Center
30. ncregister.com More Than 220,000 People Left the Catholic Church in Germany in 2020
31. ncregister.com National Catholic Register
32. catholiceducation.org The Reverts: Catholics who left and came back

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