In a recent doctrinal document, the Vatican reaffirmed that it is impossible to remove a person’s name from the baptismal register. This position responds to some requests made by those who wish to formally disassociate themselves from the Catholic Church.

The text, published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and entitled *Dignitas infinita*, offers a profound reflection on human dignity. In a specific section, the document addresses the so-called “debaptism,” that is, the request to be removed from the parish archives where the sacrament of baptism received is recorded.

The Church recalls that baptism imprints a permanent spiritual character, which cannot be erased, not even by the will of the baptized person. This invisible seal represents the definitive incorporation into Christ and the ecclesial community, and is therefore not a simple administrative document that can be canceled.

Although some episcopal conferences allow the person’s desire to depart from the faith to be noted in the margin of the baptismal register, the original registration is not deleted. This practice seeks to respect freedom of conscience without altering the sacramental reality.

From a theological perspective, baptism not only marks a moment of Christian initiation, but also configures the soul with an indelible sign. Therefore, the Church insists that even if a person decides to abandon religious practice or renounce the faith, the baptismal bond continues to exist.

This clarification from the Vatican aims to shed light on a contemporary debate that is sometimes approached from an exclusively legal or ideological perspective. For the Church, however, baptism is much more than a symbolic act: it is a profound spiritual reality that remains forever.