The Code of Canon Law

 

Canon 3:  Church Membership

 

3.1 Any person baptized, confirmed, or received into full membership, according to the approved liturgical and sacramental rites of this Church by a deacon, priest or bishop in good standing, is a full member of this Church.

3.2 This Church declares itself to be an open and affirming Catholic faith community, which particularly welcomes (all) those who have been injured or disenfranchised through religious bigotry or hatred, fear or ignorance. This Catholic faith community welcomes individuals and couples who have been divorced and remarried, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and those of the trans-gendered community, and those questioning their sexuality.

3.3 A person may terminate their membership with this Church through the sacramental rite of reception within another faith community, or by submitting a letter of intention to their pastor or local ordinary.

3.4 A person who terminates their membership with this Church may petition for readmission by submitting a written request to the local pastor or to the local ordinary.

3.5 Members who fail to profess or follow the Creedal Doctrines and Ecclesial Protocols of this Church will be notified by the local ordinary that, unless this failure is corrected, termination of membership through formal decree will occur. In such matters, a member must be provided with formal documentation of any charges and be given due process to respond and question any person making charges against them

§1 If a member who has been formally confronted and informed of their error acknowledges such, but refuses to recant or correct their heresy, their membership shall be terminated by order of the diocesan bishop.

§2 If a member who has been formally confronted and informed of their error recants and corrects their heresy, the termination process is thereby ended.

§3 The House of Bishops, with the advice of the Council of Advisors shall be the Ecclesiastical Court of final appeal.

3.6 Any member who undermines the Body of Christ by word or deed against the sacramental, liturgical or spiritual life of any parish, diocese, religious institution or any person thereof, shall have their membership terminated through the processes of Canon 3.5


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