Diocese Advertises For Parisoners (ABC)

[stumbler]

Perth’s Catholic Archbishop says newspaper advertisements calling for people to return to the Church has attracted some angry responses.

The Catholic Church placed the ads in an attempt to draw former churchgoers back into the fold.

Perth’s Archbishop Barry Hickey says church members have been drifting away for over 20 years, and it is not always known why.

He says the Church has received calls from some people who were grateful for the advertisements, but others were angry.

“Some left under difficult circumstances, feeling insulted or feeling abused by somebody,” he said.

"We want to be reconciled with them.

“We’re glad they’ve phoned and we’ll do our best to sort out what the matters are so that we can all be one again.”

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Article

 

[HagiaSophia]

stumbler:

Perth’s Catholic Archbishop says newspaper advertisements calling for people to return to the Church has attracted some angry responses.

I believe one of the dioceses in the US took out an 800 number and tried this for 60 days about 5 years ago - asking fallen away, discouraged and cultural Catholics to call in and discuss their grievances and come back “home” – it was so successful that they had to borrow priests to hear the confessions as I recall.

 

[stumbler]

HagiaSophia:

it was so successful that they had to borrow priests to hear the confessions as I recall.

Then why wasn’t it replicated in other dioceses? Sometimes I don’t understand our bishops.

 

[HagiaSophia]

stumbler:

TI don’t understand our bishops.

A couple of popes shared your view: John XXIII once lamented, when I was a bishop I had to obey the pope – now that I am pope, my bishops don’t obey me.

JPII once commented to someone holding a seminar on one of his encyclicals – so glad to hear you and your students are holding the seminar and reading it. I wish the bishops would, but then I am only the pope.

Both of them were heard to sharply retort to a few curial officials, “we know how to be pope, do not instruct me further” and “don’t they think I know how to be pope”?

As far as understanding bishops – only God knows, and I expect there are days when he scratches His head too.