December 27, 2011 12:23 PM
Catholics Come Home ads
The secular media is buzzing with positive press about the national Catholics Come Home® campaign! Click on the logos below to check out a couple of the most recent stories:
Prime-time religion: Catholics to air national TV ads
Roman Catholic Group Plans TV Campaign
CCH was even recently interviewed on a national progressive talk radio show!
Most important are the many souls who are being impacted thanks to your faithful support! We hope you are as inspired as we are by the testimonials below:
Atheist turns Catholic in Denver
"Months ago, I was an atheist trying to convert people out of faith, Today I have returned to the Church, and now I am learning apologestics and defending the faith" - Adrian
Hispanic woman returns in Boston after years away from Church
"I have come back to the Church a month today. The joy I feel is beyond words" -Jackie
Young Adult Returns to Church in Green Bay"Television commercials for Catholics Come Home® aired locally and I was inspired by the media spot that highlighted Jesus calling Peter 'the rock' and saying 'Upon this rock I will build my church.' After that, I started to investigate the Church. everything just made sense to me and I knew that's where I belong." -Casey
Please help us reach more souls in need of Christ's message of hope.
Posted in Catholicism | Permalink
Comments
Why do they lump Evangelical/Protestant with "I'm not religious" on the second button? Lumping protestants together with the godless is more likely to turn protestants off than make them feel welcomed.
Posted by: Rachel | December 27, 2011 1:35 PM
Rachel, the topic heading says "I'm not Catholic" and they just included the examples. You might be being over-sensitive.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | December 27, 2011 8:33 PM
Sue, perhaps I am. But it sure makes the implication that the two are equated because they're not Catholic. If I took it the wrong way, I'm sure I'm not the only one. There are plenty of other Protestants who could just as easily be alienated by that and decide to go no further.
Since this is a campaign designed to make people reconsider Catholicism, my guess is that alienating people from the get-go isn't what they're aiming for.
Considering the tough history, it would be better if their web designer made an extra effort to communicate to Protestant visitors that the Catholic church doesn't consider them as falling under the same category as the unsaved, who have no relationship with God at all.
I have deep respect for my Catholic friends and have no doubt in my heart that they are saved. I would never place them under the same category as the godless simply because they aren't Protestant. I expect the same respect in return.
Posted by: Rachel | December 28, 2011 3:54 AM
Well, then perhaps someone should tell them. I understand what you're saying but I would never think of it like that. It's divided into 3 groups: those who are Catholic, those who were once Catholic and those who never were Catholic.
I was a Protestant. I'm not denying what you're saying, Rachel. I'm just astounded as to what we've all become. Ready to expect the worst of everyone and I'm not saying this to be mean. But look at all of us. I'm seeing this in my own family. Why can't we look at things and see them for what they are and not imagined slights?
Already, people are looking at this and saying, "How dare you put us in with that group?". And if you're seeing this, Rachel, I agree. So are others.
I wish it wasn't so.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | December 28, 2011 9:05 AM
Rachel, I see your point, but I do think that it's clear that there are two subcategories under that head and so they are not considered the same status, If they were, they would be linked by the conjunction "and" rather than separate bullets.
I don't read into the format that the Catholic Church considers Protestants unsaved.
What I can add, having been an evangelical for 20 years and a Catholic for 4, is that Catholics take a different approach to evangelizing. They rely less on their own efforts and more on the Holy Spirit, so they may tend not to analyze things from a PR point of view. So many Catholic converts entered the church despite their own prejudice and that of their cohorts. There are many,. many converts who were protestant pastors - I've even come across a few from Assemblies of God. I myself had taught my kids to chant "dead church" when we drove by a Catholic Church.
And G. K. Chesterton said he would no more have thought of considering Catholicism than cannibalism.
All by way of saying, that we might be less prone to fashion our materials and words according to how people will respond - less strategy.
I was saved by Campus Crusades' Four Spiritual Laws - I thank God today for Bill Bright's soul-winning strategy. But I was intrigued by the Catholic Church because of their uncompromising conception-to-natural-death prolife position and 20 years later when God nudged me to attend Mass, I felt the presence of God there.
I'm thinking maybe you should contact Tom Peters at Catholics Come Home, and see what he has to say.
Love ya, Rachel,
barbara
Posted by: Barbara | December 28, 2011 9:10 AM
Thanks, Barbara. I hope you can hear my heart. I think that it's wonderful that the Catholic church is doing this evangelism campaign and is welcoming people from all denominations and faiths (or lack thereof) to take a second look, though I personally believe I'm exactly where God wants me.
I believe every person is responsible to God for responding to the Holy Spirit's leading, regardless of possible misunderstandings. But I'd hate to see an unnecessary miscommunication throw a wrench in what could otherwise be a very positive exchange. If you think Tom Peters would welcome feedback, I'll be happy to contact him.
Posted by: Rachel | December 28, 2011 2:32 PM
