Debaptism in Belgium: The Church’s Response and the Political Debate

2023-09-26 16:46:00

The VRT documentary on sexual abuse in the Church has generated significant media coverage in recent weeks. She encouraged the victims to express their anger, their indignation, and sometimes their disgust. The four-part series (the last of which was broadcast on Tuesday evening and was followed by a special broadcast of “De Afspraak” on Canvas) has already caused many believers to distance themselves from the Catholic Church. Among those who have decided to turn their backs on the institution, there are basic Christians but also Bekende Vlamingen, such as the cartoonist Lectrr or the VRT presenter Siska Schoeters. The documentary series also caused a reaction in the political world, notably Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) who declared that “the VRT series Godvergeten is occupying minds in Flanders. And mine too.”

50% of the inhabitants of Belgium would consider themselves Catholic

Baptism for life

Some wanted to go even further. Not recognizing themselves, or no longer, in the Catholic Church, some people have chosen apostasy. That is to say, denying one’s Christian faith and being “rebaptized” – “Ontdopen” in Dutch. Some say they have been thinking regarding it for a long time but, for various reasons, have never taken action. This is, following all, a symbolic approach to protest.

What is it regarding ? Any Christian who wishes to be debaptized can send a request to the parish or diocese where his baptism was celebrated, requesting written confirmation or a duplicate of the amended baptismal certificate. The response comes a few days or weeks later. But for the Church, we always remain baptized because baptism was designed by the Church as a unique “immersion” (baptisma) for the whole of life. This is the reason why it is only noted that a person requested to be removed from the parish baptism register. His name will always appear there.

Does the ecclesial apostasy procedure therefore comply with the rules relating to the protection of personal data (GDPR) within and outside the European Union – rules which provide that any person can have their name removed from an existing file? According to the VRT, the data protection authority will have to rule on the issue in the coming weeks, information confirmed by Father Tommy Scholtès, spokesperson for the bishops of Belgium.

For its part, the episcopal conference affirms that it strictly respects the rules relating to the protection of the personal data of its baptized people within and outside the EU. To support her point, she refers to a similar case in Ireland, where the church authorities recently won their case following a discussion with the European Data Protection Authority. It refers to the sites catho.be and kerknet.be if you would like more information on the subject.

In 2021, more than 5,000 Belgians asked to be “rebaptized”

Political turn

Demands for “rebaptism” have taken a political turn in recent days. Thus, MEP Kathleen Van Brempt (Vooruit) asked the European Commission to clarify the question of this personal data that the Church keeps. The socialist MP affirms that the right to be forgotten must be fully respected by the institution. The Antwerp elected official claims “that by keeping the names, even crossed out, in its baptismal registers, the Church always has them which would allow it, if necessary, to contact these people once more by trying to reintegrate them one day or later. “other in the ecclesial fold.”

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