In a severe blow to the church, thousands of Argentinians most of which are women have started abandoning the Catholic church for its protests against legalising abortion in the country reports The Guardian.

The Catholic Church had been for long facing criticism from the majority of the members of the community for its excessive interference in day to day affairs of state. After the church had conspired to lobby against legalising abortion in the country, many believers are reported to have submitted applications for apostasy as a protest to the church.

The applications indicate a significant cultural shift in the predominantly Catholic nation. Argentina where 92 per cent of the population describes themselves as Catholic, only 20 per cent is reported to have been following the religion on a day to day basis.

Many apostasy supporters express angst with the church over its opposition to divorce and same-sex marriage as well as legal abortion. The church is also alleged to have a role in the country’s military dictatorship from 1976-1983.

Women's rights campaigners have also turned against the church and triggered debates on Catholic church’s role in the country. Cael desk set up in downtown Buenos Aires is now getting flooded with signed apostasy forms.

Interestingly one of the forms read “Keep your rosaries out of my ovaries,”.

Apostasy applications are acknowledged by the church assigning “Apostate” on the baptismal records of applicants. However, campaigners demand their names instead to be erased from church registers and their baptismal certificates be physically destroyed.