These are names 2,001-25000 on NotMe.ie, together with the people’s reasons for symbolically defecting from the Catholic Church (or any other church). You can read other names and reasons at the links below.
Names 1-500 | Names 501-1,000 | Names 1,001-1,500 | Names 1,501-2,000 | Names 2,001-2,500
Leave a comment at NotMe.ie with your name and your reason for symbolically defecting, and we will record it on this website. If you want to remove your name, send us an email and we will do so.
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Wanda McKenna
16th August 2015
Reason No longer believe fairytales
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Wayne Curley
28th December 2016
Reason I believe in the old ways not this religion that was forced upon me as a child. I have not believed in the church since i was a child not even sure if i ever believed in it. The call themselves religious holy men, men of god and the have caused the deaths of millions since the church was created, one pope i read about in history supplied guns to two different religions hoping they would kill each other off, people burnt at the stake because of religous figures including joan of arc who said she could hear god and the so called religion burnt her along with countless others and they have protected child molesters for years. figures in the church whispered in the ears of monarchs imploring them to war on other countrys for their beliefs. there are many countless reasons i wish to defect.
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Wayne Gibbons
9th August 2015
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wayne kennedy
16th January 2020
Reason It’s a load of nonsense, and fear mongering misogynistic garbage, which I have no time for.And Offically wish to be no part of.
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William Barrett
29th May 2018
Reason No belief in the RC organisation
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William Barry
15th January 2016
Reason Atheist
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William Fennelly
10th August 2015
Reason Atheism
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William Goodwin
25th August 2022
Reason Learned the truth
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William Griffith
4th July 2021
Reason It’s a nonsense
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william power
9th August 2015
Reason atheist
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William Richardson
30th May 2018
Reason I despise the Catholic Church, as well as all organised religion. They brainwashed me, from birth, to fear eternal suffering if I didn’t follow their rules to the latter. To be ashamed of my body, of my natural biological urges. They told me to deny my humanity. They told me to hate my fellow man, if he was the wrong faith or sexuality. They punished me in school for thinking the wrong thoughts, asking too many questions. Even as a kid, I felt nothing at mass. It was nothing but hollow ceremony. But I couldn’t choose to stay home. The priest and teachers certainly didn’t let me. I was atheist since I was 13, mainly because of how the church treated me. Their priests raped hundreds in my country, and they tried to cover it up. They enslaved women, they beat them and stole their children away. They are despicable, authoritarian, cruel creatures. Luckily, my country is beginning to loose itself from their grip. I won’t give an inch. I spit on the church, on every single priest, for what it has done to me and my country. I’m gone, and I’m so much happier.
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William Thorne
13th November 2015
Reason Belief
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Youna McGrath
11th October 2018
Reason Don’t believe in God or anything spiritual.
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Yvonne Byrne
10th August 2021
Reason I do not consent to being any part of the catholic church which I now know is a sinister satanic cult
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Yvonne Falkiner
1st September 2018
Reason I’ve been a non-practicing Catholic since my confirmation since my Confirmation in 1990.
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Yvonne Fogarty
19th March 2017
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Yvonne Ryan
19th September 2018
Reason Do not beleive and cannot support an organisation that is sexist, homo/trans phobic and that beleives it is above the law of the land.
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Zita Spring
7th March 2017
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Zoe Brunette
1st December 2019
Reason I did not ask to be born, I certainly didn’t ask to be catholic.
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Zoe Clancy-Tyrrell
7th October 2015
Reason Did not consent
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The following are contributions made in comments under this and previous pages.
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John Reid
9th November 2014
I have tried to extinguish my inherited membership of Roman Catholicism only to find it is no longer possible due to a change in “Canon Law”. Effectively this means that a religious organisation of which I have never expressed a desire to be a part of, is now refusing to acknowledge my request to no longer be associated with it. Even Google will acknowledge a “take down” request! Surely there is some facet of data protection law that can be applied here?
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Steve White
16th November 2014
try suggestions here http://www.dataprotection.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=107&StartDate=01+January+2007 http://dublinstreams.blogspot.ie/2007/11/leaving-irish-catholic-church-its.html
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Mary Bellew
13th March 2019
As the law changed before my defection was complete, I’m now on a “list” of people who no longer wish to be regarded as Catholic. So I have been informed by member of archbishops staff. Will find way out yet, I hope.
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Kenneth O’Hehir
9th December 2015
I left the church quickly when i moved to Germany from Ireland and found out I had to pay 7% kirchensteuer (church tax) on my gross income……and guess what….if you sell your house then you have to pay 7% of the proceeds to the church also….
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Noel Quinn
17 March 2018
I wish to leave the catholic church on the grounds that i believe science has proved beyond doubt that life is just life ,and when were gone were gone, your legacy is how you behave on this planet ,and the catholic church itself has a lot to answer for.
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Edel Griffith
16th May 2018
Can the new GDPR legislation coming into force on May 25th at least mean that I can request for the Church to no longer store my records and thus they can’t count me as a catholic.
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Daniel Moggan
1st July 2019
I have just asked the data protection officer in my archdiocese if I can do this and they’ve stated it’s not possible and they are covered not to erase the information. I’m questioning them on it.
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Blacksheep Bride
17th July 2019
Any reply after questioning them on this? I’d very much like to defect and I’m sad i didn’t think to do this before 2011. I left the church in 1987!
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Danny
21st October 2019
Anyone have any more information on how to defect and officially leave the catholic church, im really struggling to get any information online.
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Karen
6th January 2020
The catholic church, like all other organisations that exist in the EU are bound by GDPR which allows for a person’s right to be forgotten, meaning that should you request to be forgotten by the church they have a legal obligation to erase any records that relate to you in anyway including removing your name from any lists is appears on. The only situation where a persons right to be forgotten can be refused by an organisation is where the data held is bound by other legislation, for example, if you were arrested and requested to be forgotten by the Garda they couldn’t comply with that request as they have a legal obligation to retain arrest records. Similarly an employer has a legal obligation to retain employee records etc. The church is not covered by any other legislation which legally binds them to having to retain the data of individuals who request to be forgotten. They are covered in the same way as any other membership type organisation that someone signs up for, like if you sign up with Facebook you have the right to delete your account at any time you see fit or if you join a gym you can end your membership when you wish to do so. This same thing applies to the church under GDPR and you have the right to end your membership when you deem appropriate and to request that your name or other data is not used by them in any way without your consent otherwise your data protection rights are essentially being violated. My suggestion would be to contact your local bishop in the first instance to request that any details regarding you are erased from church records under your right to be forgotten under GDPR. If you request this and they refuse to comply, you can lodge a formal complaint or follow up request with the Data Protection Commissioner. From what I’ve read online a good few people have gone down this route and the DPO are taking the matter quite seriously to attempt to resolve the issue of the church not respecting a persons right to have their data erased upon request. Hope this info helps.
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Steve
17th December 2019
Danny, This is currently not possible. They will add your name to a long list of like minded people including myself to say what your intentions are. So basically they are claiming you are still a member of their cult and cannot leave due to the cannon law. Certain countries deduct a percentage of tax for the cult so I will let you do the math on how much they would lose if everyone who wishes to defect were allowed to. Sickening !!!
Reply
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Mark
3rd March 2020
The Catholic Church is acting like a dumped girl/boyfriend who continues to stalk the partner who has left the couple. It is coming across as very insecure indeed. However, it is only a matter of time until the Church loses its status. It happened in France back in 1905 so it is possible in Ireland too. Have hope.
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Ciaran
19th January 2021
Does anybody know, If you convert to another religion are you then removed from the list of Catholics ? I cant find any Information regarding this. I’m hoping this could be a way of getting out of Catholicism. Id rather be an atheistic protestant than an atheistic catholic any day of the week. I know this route is fraught with problems, not least finding another church to take you on. But surly there’s a decent vicar out there somewhere willing to help. I’ve been an atheist for at least 40 years and for most of that time i was happy to be apathetic about my membership of a church I didn’t give a damn about. However in recent years I’m increasingly disgusted by them and their behavior and hate the idea of being counted amongst their number. The idea of a priest, bishop or Pope speaking for me is no longer acceptable. I’d like the idea of some other church notifying them “I’m gone” as opposed to the idea of me asking permission to leave So is conversion a way of defection ?
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P Mullen
11th February 2021
Does anybody know how the inquiry by the Data protection is progressing. I believe they started looking into the right to have your information deleted by the catholic church upon request in February 2020. I cant seem to find anything about it since.
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Shaggy
5th April 2021
I wanna leave my religion can someone teach me please….please
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James Smith
10th July 2021
Articles 18 and 20 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights say everyone has a right to believe or not believe in a religion and that nobody may be compelled to belong to an organization against their will. As Ireland is a signatory of the above, is there a legal basis to challenge the Church in court based on the above?
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Jane
27th June 2022
Surely under GDPR we have the right to be forgotten in regards to the Catholic Church?
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Conor
21st November 2022
Hi everyone, just wanted to leave this link I found on court challenge to Catholic Church on violations of GDPR https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2022/1017/1329752-courts-data/
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Jean Guilfoyle
28 August 2024
Not for me. I do not feel welcome in the Catholic church.
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Bill Sisk
1st September 2024
My life experiences have made it impossible for me to believe in the imposition of the Catholic Church on my life.
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Claire Lambert
2nd September 2024
I do not believe in God.
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Fiona Iris Flinn
5th September 2024
Catholicism was imposed on us in school and it tainted our education. The religious order robbed us of a broad and descent education , instilling falsehoods, fear , guilt , causing untold damage and low self esteem . I am so grateful that the present generation do not have to suffer that . Catholicism is Patriarchal. The hypocrisy and history of abuse in their religious institutions is unforgivable . I cannot remain a member even as a non practicing one . monotheism replaced our beliefs that were founded in The natural world . Respecting Nature and every living being that resides there and looking to our ancestors for help in times of need is what makes sense .
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Sean foy
6th September 2024
I cannot believe in a church which supported and hid sexual predators
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Robert Clohessy
14th September 2024
Science not fantasy ran by pedophiles.
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Moon Carpenter
30th September 2024
I believe in evolution and nature, not mythology. God is just a fantasy
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Fionn McConigly
10th October 2024
The way the Catholic Church works is not structured in such a way that it could accommodate who I am.
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Celestine Mc Cuskey
19th October 2024
I no longer want to be recognised as part of the Catholic Church due to its long history of unethical actions, many of which have caused immense harm to individuals. I can no longer stand by an organisation that, in defending its own interests, often disregards justice and compassion, and seeks to silence or destroy those affected. My decision is based on a deep-held conviction that I must distance myself from an institution that I believe has failed to uphold the moral and ethical principles it claims to represent. It is an organisation, that repulses me in every sense.
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James Reilly
2nd November 2024
I just don’t buy it. I can’t fathom how anyone can.
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Gery Flynn
22nd November 2024
Ireland’s Roman Catholic Church has been proven to be a corrupt institution wilfully blind to the damage it inflicted on generations of children and adults here. I want no part of this evil sect, please count me out.
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Arron Melia
30th December 2024
With no fear or regret, I formally leave this disgusting disgrace that is somehow called a “church”. It’s caused so much upset and is ripe with corruption and scandals.
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John Morrissey
11th January 2025
I wish to leave the church as I believe it’s the greatest fairytale ever told. As an Irish man, the historical abuse is unforgivable.
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Shane Kennedy
13th January 2025
I don’t want to be associated with a church that did so much damage to the most vulnerable people in our country. I don’t believe in a god.
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Charles-Thomas Clarke
15th January 2025
Atheist since Autumn 2007. Currently living in Germany, there is a church tax which you can opt out of. I have recently heard stories that Atheists leaving Germany were slapped with a huge bill because the German Tax office goes through your country of origin records. Sadly it seems if I leave I will be slapped with a church tax now as I have no proof that I’m an Atheist.
I became an Atheist in 2007 once I started my Bachelors in Archaeology.
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Laura Steenkamp
21st January 2025
I wish to not be apart of or associated with the Catholic Church . It is full of corruption, lies and a lot of false teaching’s.
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Paddy
7th February 2025
There is no god and I refuse to be associated with pedophiles
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Patrick D’Alton
9th February 2025
I don’t believe in God nor the scriptures or what they profess, putting this as my formal defection from the Catholic church.
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Danielle McCarthy
6th March 2025
I refuse to be associated with an institution responsible for generations of abuse, suffering, and corruption. The Catholic Church in Ireland and beyond has committed horrific crimes—sexual abuse, the Magdalene Laundries, the forced separation of families, the theft and sale of children, and the systemic abuse within schools. It has ruled through fear, silencing victims and protecting abusers. The Church baptizes infants without consent, then leads children into sacraments they are too young to understand, only to claim lifelong control over them on paper. I was one of those children. But I never consented, I never believed, and I refuse to be counted among them. I stand against the Catholic Church and everything it represents. I am not, and never have been, one of them.
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Roisin O’Donnell
22nd March 2025
I refuse to be a part of an organisation that facilitates and covers up abuse. I never chose this religion, it was chosen for me by my parents. I feel nothing but shame that I was raised in this ‘cult’. I am now a proud atheist.
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James C Rocks
14th April 2025
I am an atheist and I have no wish to be associated with the catholic church or any other religious cult for the rest of my life. I spend much of my free time debating and generally opposing fundamentalist religions (including catholicism) so I am sure they would not want someone so antagonistic towards their faith a part of their church and I have told them so in no uncertain terms. My strength of feeling has even led me to run several anti-religious websites, the latest being http://www.ukatheist.org.
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Noah
21st April 2025
I denounce god for a number of reasons but I’ll only use one I do not believe in him.
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Sheila Daly
26th April 2025
I do not believe in any god and I do not support the indoctrinatation and abuse of children into any paedophilic religious cult. All religion is evil, especially so the Catholic one
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These are names 2,001-25000 on NotMe.ie, together with the people’s reasons for symbolically defecting from the Catholic Church (or any other church). You can read other names and reasons at the links below.
Names 1-500 | Names 501-1,000 | Names 1,001-1,500 | Names 1,501-2,000 | Names 2,001-2,500
Leave a comment at NotMe.ie with your name and your reason for symbolically defecting, and we will record it on this website. If you want to remove your name, send us an email and we will do so.
