Catholic Church Launches Massive Ad Campaign

[Abyssinia]

After years of highly publicized scandals and controversy, the Catholic Church has launched a massive, nationwide effort to bring members back to the church.

The commercials vary in length, with one spot as long as 2 minutes.

cbsatlanta.com/news/26534307/detail.html

 

[Rascalking]

I look at it this way-if this gets more people into the Church, isn’t it great? The Catholic Church needs better PR, and if this is the way they need to do it, then so be it!

 

[Corki]

This is new to Atlanta but not a new program. “Catholics Come Home” began in Arizona and has been replicated in other diocese over the last several years.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

The guy who runs “Catholics Come Home” was interviewed on Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s live television program and it was fabulous.

Fr. Benedict was really tickled by the aggressive good taste of the commercials.

Not sure what else to call it, but it was superb.

They have a Web site that is quite good.

catholicscomehome.org/

Also, google " catholicscomehome " and there are a lot of interesting hits.

 

[Tony9712262]

This is new to Atlanta but not a new program. “Catholics Come Home” began in Arizona and has been replicated in other diocese over the last several years.

The founder of “Catholics Come Home” lives in Georgia. Their headquarters are in Georgia. Yea…the commercial ads began in Arizona. Finally came to Atlanta. lol Well…to the Archdiocese of Atlanta, and diocese of Savannah.

 

[Dale_M]

Some history on the beginnings of this campaign:

The first campaign of commercials to bring Catholics home was launched in the Phoenix, Arizona diocese during Lent 1998 and brought 3,000 Catholics back home. In 1998, a second launch with in its current form of international quality film ads and the internet site, helped bring 92,000 souls home. The commercial, “Epic” depicts the accomplishments of the Catholic Church in serving mankind throughout history, including compiling the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and such charitable accomplishments as opening orphanages, helping the poor, founding the college system and educating more children than any other religious institution. Another commercial, “Movie” inspires viewers to reflect upon their own life’s movie and offers forgiveness, hope and the opportunity to begin again.

“Within two days of airing the commercials in Phoenix for a second time, people spread the word about our Internet site and we received emails from all fifty states and around the world,” says Peterson. “One priest in Phoenix told us he had 16 people come into the confessional that had been away from the Church for 15, 20 and 30 years.”

Following the first launch, a longitudinal study was conducted to measure the effectiveness. Six months after the media campaign ended, an analysis revealed an increase in Mass attendance of 12 percent even though the population growth in the Diocese of Phoenix had not increased at all during that same period. The next campaign was conducted in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. They experienced a 17.7 percent increase in Mass attendance as a result of their bilingual Catholics Come Home.org and CatolicosRegresen.org campaigns.

catholicexchange.com/2010/12/03/142795/

I was kind of tickled, though, to see that the phrase “Catholics Come Home” is a registered trademark.

 

[CinciMom]

I am shocked and sad that no diocese in Ohio is partnering up with this organization. I LOVE their commercials – they are powerful!

 

[Ed_Normile]

This could not hurt at all. I think its at the least a step in the right direction. What we truly need are far more ordinary people who are street level evangelists, ones who talk openly about the goodness in the Church, the benefits of the Sacraments and their personal experiences with these things. What a novel concept !?

Just for fun how about plagarizing some old ads, changing them to fit catholic ads.

Be less than you can be! , in the Roman Catholic Church. Learn humility and please God.

Wheres the Body? In the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist we have the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord.

With the Rock. Come join in celebrating the Eucharist and be part of the Communion of Saints from the Apostles including Jesus Rock through the ages forward.

I am sure there are better examples out there, maybe you have a few.

ed