inactive Catholics
Most
Catholics know someone who was baptized as a Catholic and is no longer
practicing the Faith. These inactive Catholics are our brothers, sisters, sons,
daughters, parents, relatives and friends. Their reasons for “not going to
Church” range from laziness to arguments to disbelief to anger to lack of
knowledge. Research shows that the largest religion in the
United States
is Catholic and the second largest is inactive Catholics. A number of proven
and effective outreach methods are presented in the resources below. The key to
any effort is love, a love that sincerely cares about the person and desires
nothing less than what Jesus desires, that all “may have life and have it more
abundantly.” (John 10:10) We love because we are loved by God.
Books
Welcome Home! Stories of Fallen-Away Catholics Who Came Back
A compilation of
conversion stories, published by Ignatius Press in 2000. The testimonies are
from many walks of life, e.g. a priest, a LA cop, a young adult, a family man,
good childhood and rough childhood, etc. This book would be useful both to those
who are planning the outreach and those who are considering returning to the
practice of the Catholic Faith. The last chapter discusses the Sacrament of
Reconciliation and provides an adult examination of conscience.
Could
You Ever Come Back to the Catholic Church?
Written by Lorene
Hanley Duquin, published by Alba House in 1997. Lorine Hanley Duquin has been
involved with ministry to fallen-away Catholics and their families since 1992.
The back cover explains, “Sixteen million Catholics feel separated from the
Church, and 40% of you say you would come back if the Church really wanted you.
This book was written for you. It was designed specifically to address your
concerns: the real reasons that caused you to leave in the first place.”
Chapters are dedicated to questions like: 1) Could you ever come back to the
Catholic Church? 2) Why did you leave? 3) Are you listening Lord? 4)
Changes in the Church since Vatican II; 5) A look inside the marriage
tribunal; 6) Confession; 7) Why do people come back?, etc. Lorine Hanley
Duquin has been involved with ministry to fallen-away Catholics and their
families since 1992.
When
a Loved One Leaves the Church
Written by Lorene
Hanley Duquin, published by Our Sunday Visitor in 2001.
Lorine Hanley Duquin has been involved with ministry to fallen-away Catholics
and their families since 1992. This is a book written as a practical guide for
living with, loving and praying for those you deeply love who are no longer
practicing the Faith.
Books on evangelization
Television Series
Search and Rescue – The Series
Series aired on
EWTN, hosted by Patrick Madrid. Schedule available at
http://www.ewtn.com/tv/schedule_index.htm. Patrick Madrid began his
outreach in the mid-1980’s, is a world-renowned apologist, founder of Envoy
magazine, and author of many books. In this series he gives tips on how to
bring non-Catholics into the Church and bring fallen-away Catholics back into
the Church. Evangelization should never be a Search and Destroy mission--it
should be a Search and Rescue mission.
Search and Rescue – The Book
Written by Patrick
Madrid and published by Sophia Institute Press in 2001. Patrick Madrid began
his outreach in the mid-1980’s, is a world-renowned apologist, founder of Envoy
magazine, and author of many books. In the foreword, Scott Hahn writes,
“Patrick Madrid teaches the best methods for bringing people into the Catholic
Church…not merely another arsenal of answer to questions…but also the spiritual
elements that must be there” for a successful mission. Patrick Madrid
illustrates how even though you don’t know all the answers and can’t explain
every aspect of being Catholic, you can bring people back to the Church through
prayer, friendship and common sense.
Website
Once
Catholic Website Ministry
This is a website ministry designed to attract
inactive Catholics, provide answers to their questions, and suggest pathways for
returning to the Church.
OnceCatholic.org is a ministry of the Franciscan Friars
of Saint John the Baptist Province, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A, a Roman Catholic
order founded by Saint Francis of
Assisi.
The mission of OnceCatholic.org is to put inactive Catholics back in touch with
a face-to-face community of Catholics. Along the way, they help you to sort
through your issues with the Church.
Programs
How
To Bring Back Fallen Away Catholics
Four CD series by
MICHAEL BARBER available at
www.saintjoe.com
According to popular author Michael Barber, M.A., we live in an exciting time of
true Catholic Renaissance. He points to the many prominent converts and the fact
that today the Catholic Church is the largest Christian body in the world.
Unfortunately, the second largest is made up of ex-Catholics.
Why do
so many Catholics leave the Church? How do we explain this tragedy? What do you
say to the Catholics in your life that have fallen away to another religion, or
even none at all? In this all-new four-CD series, you'll discover that being a
true lay apostle today doesn't mean having all the answers. Rather, you'll learn
the vital Biblical wisdom that shows what to do to become an effective
evangelist-and also what to avoid! Discover How to Talk to Fallen- Away
Catholics in your life.
Inviting Catholics Home: A Parish Program.
Sally L. Mews
wrote a book explaining her six week program. This resource came out in 2002
and is published by Liguori Press. Before explaining the program, she provides
information on “why people leave the Church” and “why people return.” She
also has other published material to support this program.
The
Paulists have two new outreach programs
