Church in the World

Court clears way for baptismal annulment

Spain

A Spanish court has for the first time recognised the right of Catholics to seek apostasy, writes Graham Keeley. Manel Blat González, 41, a graphic designer from Valencia, sought to declare his separation from the Church by having records of his baptism deleted.

But the office of the Archbishop of Valencia argued that baptism certificates were not files that could be cancelled and that they did not in any case prove a person's ongoing membership in the Catholic Church.

Now three judges at the National Court have ruled that the archbishopric's refusal to cancel the baptism records violated the complainant's rights to religious freedom. It added that it was legitimate for him to have his records annulled. After the hearing, Mr Blat said: "I am a homosexual and the Church attacks my life so I do not consider myself part of that."

With 1,000 apostasy cases pending resolution in the Spanish courts, the archbishop's office is expected to appeal.