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COMECE expresses concerns over EU Court Advocate General’s Opinion on erasure from baptismal registers

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) expressed concern on October 5, 2026, regarding a legal opinion that could allow individuals to request the erasure of personal data from baptismal registers. The statement follows a non-binding opinion delivered on October 1 by Advocate General Laila Medina of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The dispute, known as the Bisdom Gent case, began in March 2021 when a Belgian citizen asked the Diocese of Ghent to delete his information from all records, including the baptismal register, citing the General Data Protection Regulation. The diocese instead added a notation stating the person had left the Church and marked the original entry with two diagonal lines.

Medina suggested that EU data protection laws may apply to baptismal records and could grant a baptized person the right to have their information removed if the Church cannot demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for keeping it. COMECE warned that erasing names would deprive the records of their meaning and purpose, potentially creating significant legal uncertainty for Church authorities across Europe. The final judgment is expected in late 2026 or 2027.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

7 sources21 reports8 languages

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Earlier version, Thursday 8 October

COMECE expresses strong concerns over EU Court Advocate General's Opinion on erasure from baptismal registers

Earlier version, Wednesday 7 October

COMECE expresses strong concerns over EU Court Advocate General’s Opinion on erasure from baptismal registers

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 5, 2:53 AM Vida Nueva Español Los obispos europeos se rebelan contra el borrado de los registros bautismales
  2. Oct 5, 9:53 AM Vatican News Polski Biskupi UE zaniepokojeni opinią TSUE ws. wykreślania danych z ksiąg chrztu
  3. Oct 5, 11:29 AM Opoka Polski Biskupi UE zaniepokojeni opinią TSUE w sprawie wykreślania danych z ksiąg chrztu
  4. Oct 5, 4:45 AM ACI Prensa Español Obispos de la UE alertan del riesgo de borrar nombres de los registros bautismales
  5. Oct 5, 8:55 PM InfoVaticana Español Los obispos de la UE alertan ante la tesis jurídica que abre la puerta a borrar datos de los registros bautismales
  6. Oct 5, 6:15 AM Omnes Español Los obispos defienden los archivos bautismales ante la Justicia europea
  7. Oct 5, 12:29 AM COMECE 🔴 COMECE expresses strong concerns over the EU Court Advocate General’s Opinion on erasure from baptismal registers
  8. Oct 5, 4:24 AM Církev.cz Čeština COMECE vyjadřuje silné znepokojení nad právním názorem generálního advokáta Soudu EU ohledně výmazu z křestních matrik
  9. Oct 5, 10:37 AM The Pillar EU bishops: Baptismal entry ruling could create ‘significant legal uncertainty’
  10. Oct 6, 7:30 AM TK KBS Slovenčina COMECE vyjadruje obavy pred právnou neistotou pri krstných matrikách
  11. Oct 5, 11:41 PM Crux Forcing churches to delete baptismal records would infringe religious freedom, legal expert tells Crux Now
  12. Oct 6, 2:40 AM InfoCatólica Español Los obispos de la UE alertan de «inseguridad jurídica» tras las conclusiones del TJUE sobre los «desbautismos»
  13. Oct 6, 2:52 AM Vatican News Tiếng Việt Các Giám mục châu Âu khẳng định dữ liệu rửa tội cần được lưu giữ, không thể xoá khỏi hồ sơ giáo xứ
  14. Oct 6, 4:00 AM Catholic News Agency EU bishops warn about risks of deleting names from baptismal records
  15. Oct 6, 3:59 AM Stacja7 Polski RODO kontra księgi chrztu – czy można „wymazać” chrzest z kościelnych ksiąg? Biskupi UE alarmują
  16. Oct 5, 6:12 AM DOMRADIO.DE Deutsch Löschen oder bewahren? / EU-Bischofskommission warnt vor Rechtsunsicherheit bei Taufregistern
  17. Oct 6, 8:11 AM Alfa y Omega Español COMECE alerta sobre las consecuencias si el TJUE obligara a borrar los registros bautismales
  18. Oct 6, 11:48 AM National Catholic Register EU Bishops Warn About Risks of Deleting Names From Baptismal Records
  19. Oct 7, 4:56 AM Katholiek Nieuwsblad Nederlands Experts waarschuwen: Europees advies doopregisters leidt tot juridische chaos
  20. Oct 7, 4:41 PM ZENIT News Agency Can Europe Erase a Baptism? A Legal Battle Puts Church Autonomy to the Test
  21. Oct 6, 4:30 PM ZENIT News Agency Español ¿Puede Europa borrar un bautismo? Una batalla legal pone a prueba la autonomía de la Iglesia

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