The group Not in Our Name, founded in June to help people formally renounce their Catholic faith, is considering legal action against the Curia for impeding people wanting to formally terminate their association with the church.

It said in a statement that to formally leave the church, one had to be individually interviewed by the chancellor of the Curia.

Out of the 41 people who contacted the group to leave the church, 23 said they preferred to be in the company of others in the same situation on the date of the interview.

The group asked the chancellor to set up appointments during which it would be possible for him to see three people – one at a time but on the same day.

This had been done on January 10, 2009 when Dr Patrick Attard and another two people had gone through the same procedure.

Such an arrangement was not acceptable to the chanceller

"Not In Our Name considers the Curia's behaviour unhelpful, insensitive and obstructive.

"The organisation also believes that it has exhausted all approaches which would enable it to fulfil its commitment towards people who are interested in defection, and at the same time need support in formally renouncing their faith," it said.