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Deconsecration is simply deliberately carried out desecration. Desecration takes place when a consecrated object is destroyed or materially altered in some way. The minimalist view is that desecration can be caused by tapping an object with intention to desecrate/deconsecrate. The usual process with a church is not a ritual per se, but consists of the removal of relics/altar stone (which effectively desecrates the altar) and of the consecration crosses on the walls of the church (effectively deconsecrating the building). It is usual to remove the altar and font, less for the reasons above than for the fact that they can be reused. This is the current Catholic practice; I would see no real reason for it to have changed substantially since the MA. Cheers Rob ____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie