Let them go .
Francis did the right thing this time. RIP
More than 524 Belgian Catholics requested formal apostasy—or removal from baptismal registries ("débaptisation")—in protest of Pope Francis's remarks on abortion and the role of women during his visit to Belgium and Luxembourg in late September 2024. [1, 2, 3]
## Key Reasons for the Protest
* Stance on Abortion: Pope Francis strongly condemned abortion, referring to doctors who perform it as "hired killers" and publicly praising former King Baudouin—who temporarily abdicated the throne in 1990 rather than sign a bill legalizing abortion—while announcing the start of Baudouin’s beatification process. [1, 4]
* Role of Women: The signers objected to the Pope's traditional statements regarding the status and role of women within the Catholic Church. [2]
* Method of Action: In an open letter sent to the apostolic nuncio in Brussels, Archbishop Luc Terlinden, and the country's seven dioceses, 524 individuals formally demanded that a note be added to the church's baptismal register indicating their formal withdrawal. (While the Catholic Church teaches that baptism leaves an indelible spiritual mark and cannot be physically erased, parishes note the formal rejection in their registry books). [1, 2, 3, 5]
Read the full report on the protest via [Rome Reports](https://www.romereports.com/en/2024/10/31/why-have-more-than-500-belgian-catholics-asked-to-be-de-baptized-after-the-popes-trip/) or read more on the background via [Catholic World Report](https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2024/10/17/over-500-belgians-demand-removal-from-baptismal-registry-after-pope-francis-remarks/). [1, 2]
If you would like, I can provide more details on how formal apostasy works in Belgium compared to other European countries like Germany.
[1] [https://www.romereports.com](https://www.romereports.com/en/2024/10/31/why-have-more-than-500-belgian-catholics-asked-to-be-de-baptized-after-the-popes-trip/)
[2] [https://www.catholicworldreport.com](https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2024/10/17/over-500-belgians-demand-removal-from-baptismal-registry-after-pope-francis-remarks/)
[3] [https://www.catholicculture.org](https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=63665)
[4] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/groups/926447144204442/posts/3410190022496796/)
[5] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/groups/7026003810860756/posts/27723504957350672/)
