I'm curious, because it's the law that as an American citizen you can legally resign from any church that you so choose, just as you can join any church you so choose. But the Vatican is in Italy, not the United States. So I'm wondering how that works. Even if the US has no control over the Vatican and can't force the Church to allow their members to resign, the members still reside here. I know it's possible to be excommunicated, but it's not the same thing. Just curious. Thanks.
Religion & Spirituality - 8 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Yes you can resign, it's called walking out the door. No one is going to stop you. And the Vatican is not in Italy it is in Vatican City. Different countries.
2 :
Why not? What are they, the Mafia? edit: Oh.
3 :
you just stop attending, and don't look back :-) you are free to do as you desire, it is your life, slavery went out in the 1800's no one owns you, only Jesus and He doesn't force anyone to stay, He is deeply saddened but not combative or condescending....He IS Love, He is Truth. God Bless
4 :
Baptism leaves an indelible mark upon your soul. You are always Catholic, but can lose your salvation through rejection of Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church. Once a Catholic Always a Catholic. Only forgiveness is necessary for returning to Christ Jesus.
5 :
Sure! Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
6 :
Catholicism is The only true Christian Faith. Catholicism leads to eternal happiness in heaven, since Catholicism teaches a full gospel, because Catholicism teaches We are saved by Christ's grace alone, through faith and works done in charity inspired by the Holy Spirit for salvation, and that is a true gospel of works Matthew 25:33-46 NO WORKS NO FAITH.32 Jesus answered them: Many good works I have showed you from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me And The Catholic Church. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though you will not believe me, believe the works: that you may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in the Father. John 14:12: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (GALATIANS 1:6-9). For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God--not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (EPHESIANS 2:8-10) It's clear from the Book of Acts in the Bible that Catholics existed during the days of Acts. And Is where the word Christian was invented. Evodius was the first Bishop of Antioch a Catholic, and he is credited with being the first person to call the followers of Christ, "Christians", as shown in Acts 11:26. See Eusebius, book 3, chapter 22.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05653a.htm Saint Ignatius (35-107), the second Bishop of Antioch wrote a letter to the Smyrneans in 107 A.D.. In this letter is recorded the first known use of the words "Catholic Church"... Catholicism existed for Centuries before any Protestant sect was formed .Centuries after Jesus formed the First church the catholic church.. Those in the Book of Acts are the first Christians, and they believed what would be called Catholic doctrine today. ANYONE can read the Book of Acts for themselves and see. Had Protestantism existed during the time of Acts, the first Christians would have rejected It completely Because the Bible was not yet formed neither the doctrines of OSAS , Faith alone, and Sola scriptura. . Also there's Heretic Christians who also completely rejected Catholicism, long before Martin Luther was even born. At the Council Of Nicea they were rejected and were called Arians. Which is why we have the belief In the Trinity they rejected the heretics. And there is no "pope" in the Bible Because they were called Bishops Which is what they are still called. Every "pope" is a Vicar Of Christ. There were ALWAYS saved believers outside the catholic , who did not know The full truth of Catholicism but that was by the grace of the savior they would have been catholic if given the time. Catholicism saves. By Only believing in Jesus alone for salvation, That is what the Catholic church teaches. The truth is that Jesus is God, and Jesus loves you so very much! :D The truth about Jesus is that the only way to be saved and to get into heaven and avoid being sent to eternal hell, is by believing We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN. I'm not a "protestant". I'm a saved believer in Jesus
7 :
<<Is it possible to resign from the Catholic Church?>> APOSTASY - The total rejection by a baptized person of the Christian faith he once professed. The term is also applied in a technical sense to "apostates from religious life," who without authorization leave a religious institute after perpetual vows with no intention of returning. (Etym. Latin apostasia, falling away or separation from God; from Greek apostasis, revolt, literally, a standing-off.) <<I'm curious, because it's the law that as an American citizen you can legally resign from any church that you so choose, just as you can join any church you so choose.>> No earthly government has authority over any Church. The American government is no exception. The American government is irrelevant because it has no authority over any Church. <<But the Vatican is in Italy, not the United States.>> The Catholic Church is in every country all over the globe; many parishes, all One Church. That One Church has a "headquarters", and that is the Vatican in Rome. The Vatican is the Head of the Church on Earth; every Catholic parish, everywhere on the globe. <<So I'm wondering how that works. Even if the US has no control over the Vatican and can't force the Church to allow their members to resign, the members still reside here.>> Think of a Catholic as having duel citizenship. A Catholic is a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (the Catholic Church), but also a citizen of whatever earthly kingdom we live in. <<I know it's possible to be excommunicated, but it's not the same thing.>> I think you're thinking of Apostacy.
8 :
Yes. Here is the Vatican's official document on how a person abandons the Catholic Church, ACTUS FORMALIS DEFECTIONIS AB ECCLESIA CATHOLICA: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/intrptxt/documents/rc_pc_intrptxt_doc_20060313_actus-formalis_en.html With love in Christ.
