Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
La Plata (Agenzia Fides) – Archbishop Hector Aguer of La Plata (Argentina), on the weekly program “Keys for a Better World,” explained his amazement in light of the campaign taking place that uses electronic means to promote collective apostasy in Argentina today.
It is a campaign, the Archbishop explains, that “is inviting those who consider themselves ex-Catholics or who would like to renounce the Catholic faith to write letters of apostasy to their dioceses, asking that their name be removed from the Baptismal registries.”
In this respect, the Prelate recalls first of all that Baptism and the act of baptism cannot be erased. The only thing that could be done is have a note placed in the margin, just as in the case of a marriage or confirmation, saying that this person formally apostated from the Christian faith, and there is an ordered procedure by canon law for establishing that decision.”
However, what is truly important, Bishop Aguer says, is the ideology and the thought process behind the campaign, “as it clearly appears in the proposal, which is very intelligently configured.” The campaign is promoted by groups that say that they “resist every discussion and operation of domination over our bodies, our thoughts and feelings and our daily practices of liberation. We will oppose the pastoral power of the Church, the symbolic power of our radical 'not in my name.'” The Archbishop says that what is especially disturbing is that it is a protest “against the public and cultural presence of the Church. What expressly bothers these movements is that the Church still has a say in Argentinean society... faith is a part of the culture and this is an attempt to uproot the faith from the culture of the people.”
In response to this situation, the Prelate recalls that this campaign should be an inspiration to Catholics to “renew our faith, not only personally, but in our society and cultural expressions.” In this respect, he proposes a revision of “all that has to do with infant baptism, how to establish a better pastoral ministry in promotion of baptism, which implies an accompaniment of the parents who are having their child baptized...during those years before the child goes to the parish catechesis in preparation for a completion of his Christian Initiation.” All this should be done “to recuperate the awareness that by baptism we become witnesses of Christ and we should manifest our faith in daily life.”
The apostasy campaign in Argentina, which is taking place during March, was launched on March 7 with the slogan “Not in my name!” Its intent is to make as many requests for apostasy as possible reach the Catholic Church in Argentina and they have created a website in which those interested in apostating can download and fill-out a form for the ecclesiastical authorities. According to organizers, the main reason for presenting the apostasy is that the Catholic Church “condemns abortion, homosexuality, boycotts the government's attempts to establish a policy on sexual education, opposes the use and distribution of contraceptives, euthanasia, divorce,” and other things, in the name of those who are baptized. Thus, the objective according to organizers is to prevent what they call “religious interference” in civil matters. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 31/3/2009)
