How can I leave the catholic church?

[Will__S]

I was born catholic, baptized, given first communion and confirmed within the catholic church before I really had a chance to think about it all.

Now that I'm a fervent atheist, I used to think I was ok with my being counted as a catholic, since I had not the energy to do anything about it. Their recent behaviour though has changed my mind.

It started with ratzinger's appaling attitude to condoms in africa, and now through this snowballing paedophilia protection racket, I think it's time for me and this disgusting, indolent, arrogant vile organisation to part company, even though it would of course be a nominal event.

It might have come to this anyway, since their attitude to pretty much everything, especially under this current leering fascist, is pretty much abhorent to me, from their attitudes to gays, 'unbaptized' babies going to 'hell', 'purgatory', etc etc. In fact I don't think I could have a polite conversation with a priest these days; as I get older I seem to get angrier and angrier with them and their kind.

How can I get them to stop counting me, or how can I remove my name from any link to this vile body?
I no longer wish to be associated with the morally bankrupt old villain in a frock, but have no idea how to go about it.

Many thanks.
Will

[Justincider]

I'm a catholic but I don't declare it on any forms or to anybody. Just ignore the fact, simples.

[tamborine]

dont vent your fustration on me. I pointed out the difference between bile & bible was a missing b.

Blimey - you're as dictatorial as most faiths - chill.

As to my beliefs - that's my business but dont assume anything.

[society]

Will, start dressing like a Sikh or Hare Rama :-)

[Will__S]

@tamborine - my apologies if you were not saying that your belief is that there is not enough bible in the world - it just read like that.

I don't think I'm dictatorial really - I really do believe in Live & Let Live, it's just that that does not apply in any way to the catholic church. They want to control you and everything you think and do.

As I have always said, your beliefs are your own and I would never ever try to stop you believing in anything - up to the point that you start claiming as they do that anyone who doesn't agree with you is going to hell, or some similar concept.

Again, apologies if you weren't advocating the bible as a guide for life, I must have misunderstood your post. Still not sure why the missing b would soften my venom?

:-)
Peace.

[tamborine]

Mainstay faiths have derived from words of wandering arab men. Anyone living by their ethics is stupid/simple.

As for the church/temple/mosque/synagogue they are meeting places for like-minded. If you're a member you abide by their rules or leave.

[Vagrant]

Useful links for guidance and support here:
http://freethinker.co.uk/

[romko]

....someone has been reading their Richard Dawkins!

[tamborine]

blimey...that aint no respectful avatar for this site ;)