Huge Catholic advertising campaign?

[Anna_Scott]

Wow, what sort of things did they say?

I would also appreciate seeing this where I live. We drove back home yesterday and saw these huge billboards that said, WHERE ARE YOU SPENDING ETERNITY?!?, and, HELL IS REAL. I know they’re from Protestants, but some human sympathy, not scare tactics, would be appreciated.

I’m Protestant, and I really dislike those kinds of tactics. Salvation is not “fire insurance.” :coolinoff:

Anna

 

[Marie5890]

I’m all about the Theology and I guess I just don’t understand people who leave or join a Faith that are doing it for non-Theological reasons.

I think it happens more for non-theological reasons that theological ones. Most people really are just too busy with other things that are important to them to take the necessary time, effort, and energy to research, study and question.

People like you, I, and others here on this kind of a website are not the norm. We are a-typical.

It also takes a certain degree of intelligence to wade thru the deeper theological isses, including history, and many may be limited that way.

Add to that, many people really arent interested in history in general, never mind religious history of humanity.

People generally turn to religion when they feel a need or a void in their lives. They tend NOT to do it, off the bat, because they love God. But because they are lacking or feeling alone.

That happens after in most people cases.

again JMO and observations of human nature.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

I’m Protestant, and I really dislike those kinds of tactics. Salvation is not “fire insurance.” :coolinoff:

Anna

Anna,

I like the way you put that!

Yes, it’s not so much as what we’re “saved from”, but the Gospel is about what we are “saved for”. We’re saved for theosis! As the Bible says in 2 Peter Chapter 1: “…His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…”

Monica

 

[SingleMomMonica]

I think it happens more for non-theological reasons that theological ones. Most people really are just too busy with other things that are important to them to take the necessary time, effort, and energy to research, study and question.

People like you, I, and others here on this kind of a website are not the norm. We are a-typical.

It also takes a certain degree of intelligence to wade thru the deeper theological isses, including history, and many may be limited that way.

Add to that, many people really arent interested in history in general, never mind religious history of humanity.

People generally turn to religion when they feel a need or a void in their lives. They tend NOT to do it, off the bat, because they love God. But because they are lacking or feeling alone.

That happens after in most people cases.

again JMO and observations of human nature.

Okay. I’m a nerd.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

I have noticed a recent HUGE Catholic advertising campaign and am wondering WHY?

Why does the Catholic Church feel it necessary to advertise?

Driving to a friend’s house I past by 4 Large Billboards, 2 of which were computerized, 2 bus stop advertisements and today I have watched TV for about an hour & a half total, but have seen 5 Catholic TV Commericals.

What is going on?

A new question just occured to me…Do you think that these TV Commericals & Billboard/Bus Stop Advertisments are influencing Catholics who were about to leave the Church or thinking about leaving the Church to stay?

Also, how is the Church judging the results/affectiveness of this advertising campaign?

 

[TheosisM]

here’s one article about Catholics Come Home:

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0901388.htm

 

[Marie5890]

A new question just occured to me…Do you think that these TV Commericals & Billboard/Bus Stop Advertisments are influencing Catholics who were about to leave the Church or thinking about leaving the Church to stay?

Also, how is the Church judging the results/affectiveness of this advertising campaign?

First off like other said, I think this is a private campaign but a certain group and not necessarily a “Church as a whole” undertaking (Say unlike this being the Year of the Priest; that is definitely universal)

Do I think it will prevent people from leaving the Church who may be thinking of doing so?
No, to be honest, I dont think so. I really think its more directed at those who may have become lax or are re-evaluating their spiritual health.

JMO.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Anna,

I like the way you put that!

Yes, it’s not so much as what we’re “saved from”, but the Gospel is about what we are “saved for”. We’re saved for theosis! As the Bible says in 2 Peter Chapter 1: “…His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…”

Monica

Good way of explaining it.

I do see salvation as a reconciliation to God, and Christ as our High Priest. I was not in any way diminishing the work of Christ on the Cross.

What concerns me, is a mindset within some Protestant Churches, that puts so much emphasis on salvation, as a means to escape hell; it sometimes reaches a narcissistic level (which was actually an observation of a Jewish writer, I read several years ago.)

I think our emphasis should be on loving God, and a sincere desire to serve Him and to serve others–always seeking not only the forgiveness of sin, but turning away from sin. Whatever graces we are given in eternity are gifts we cannot earn and do not deserve.

Anna

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Good way of explaining it.

I do see salvation as a reconciliation to God, and Christ as our High Priest. I was not in any way diminishing the work of Christ on the Cross.

What concerns me, is a mindset within some Protestant Churches, that puts so much emphasis on salvation, as a means to escape hell; it sometimes reaches a narcissistic level (which was actually an observation of a Jewish writer, I read several years ago.)

I think our emphasis should be on loving God, and a sincere desire to serve Him and to serve others–always seeking not only the forgiveness of sin, but turning away from sin. Whatever graces we are given in eternity are gifts we cannot earn and do not deserve.

Anna

Yep! I agree with what you say!

 

[prodigalson12]

Way, way too often people leave the church, either directly or indirectly due to spiritual attack. We may call it one thing or the other, excuse wise, but look to it for what it is. The last thing the evil one wants is for us to continue to go to church. Take note with those rejoining the faith, reuniting with going to church on a regular basis, and ask them, how many times did they have thoughts or feelings that seemed to be trying to block their path from attending. I can attest to my own situation, having not gone to mass, and rejoining into it years later, I’ve faced these attacks, literally right up to the steps leading up to the church itself.

They may blame many things, but that’s the sad truth and reality of it all.

 

[Teneas]

Catholics come home was not sanctioned, created, influence, or supported by the Catholic church, it was/is all laymen doing this, people like you and I, getting together, raising their own funds and implementing this bad boy, and you know what, IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!

I am not downplaying it like it’s just there for lax Catholics, it’s our way of telling the world, we are an approachable, God fearing church that makes a huge amount of contributions in the world. The fact it’s happening to start to encrouch upon territory largely held by other faiths, or lack therin, is the underlying issue I suspect from the OP, and sadly, too many other people. These were done in taste, they are done with style, and are a gentle way to invite anybody that wants to know about us, who we are, and what the Catholic faith is about, to not hesitate.

What makes this more remarkable, we aren’t the type to press hard on people for conversions, this is not the same as too many other religions, yet these displays are being viewed as a recruitment tool, but if you notice, there is no pressure about this, what so ever in that regard. Basically saying, here we are, this is what we do, this is what we stand for, if this looks appealing to you, learn more at your local parish, nothing more.

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

The TV ads are of various people who had stopped going to Church cause they were to busy with Professional Sports, dealing with family problems, or just stopped going. They then talk about how great it is to be back in Church.

I’m I guess what you could call a fallen away Catholic since I converted to Orthodoxy, these advertisments don’t spark any interest besides curiosity as to why there out there because they do not address any dogmatic or doctrinal reasons why people, including me, leave the Catholic Church.

Maybe there are those who left without being educated and it’s those uneducated people they’re reaching out to meaning they are only reaching out to those who did not leave after study of dogmatic or doctrinal issues.

I wonder what kind of response, if any, these advertisments are getting?

Has membership or tithe increased?

Here are some of the results so far:

catholicscomehome.org/about-results-and-awards.php

 

[Harpazo]

I have noticed a few advertisements here at there, but not a lot. I have never seen Catholic billboards in my area. It does sound a little weird, as if Christianity can be marketed, but we do live in a different age. However, I firmly believe that the best evangelism is done by living the Christian life in willful submission to God’s will.

At least the Catholic Church is not using money to build a mall, like the Mormons are.

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[Marie5890]

I have noticed a few advertisements here at there, but not a lot. I have never seen Catholic billboards in my area. It does sound a little weird, as if Christianity can be marketed, but we do live in a different age. However, I firmly believe that the best evangelism is done by living the Christian life in willful submission to God’s will.

At least the Catholic Church is not using money to build a mall, like the Mormons are.

In Christ,
Andrew

(OT here…Glad my tithing money didnt go for that… …That would have deeply annoyed me… )

 

[prodigalson12]

(OT here…Glad my tithing money didnt go for that… …That would have deeply annoyed me… )

In my line of work, I do sell to protestant churches, often they use what’s purchased as an amenity. It would not offend me if the Catholic church was able to take some of the contributions to employ people and turn over a profit in the process. I can’t imagine that as being a bad thing at all, and this should be taken note of with our governments, where we pour out outrageous tax money to them, only to squander, not caring at all entirely because they know they are going to get more from us in the future, if they used the money to make more money from it, our national deficit would be fixed, the same as if the church did, it’s fiscal problems would be over with.

 

[peary1]

I have noticed a recent HUGE Catholic advertising campaign and am wondering WHY?

Why does the Catholic Church feel it necessary to advertise?

Driving to a friend’s house I past by 4 Large Billboards, 2 of which were computerized, 2 bus stop advertisements and today I have watched TV for about an hour & a half total, but have seen 5 Catholic TV Commericals.

What is going on?

It’s time to call the kids home.

 

[Theodora]

Most recently on my way to church I have spotted a huge billboard which says RELIGION IS POWER in prominent, large letters. There is some smaller print underneath this, which I can’t read. I don’t know which organization has placed it up.

 

[Ignatius]

I have noticed a recent HUGE Catholic advertising campaign and am wondering WHY?

Why does the Catholic Church feel it necessary to advertise?

Driving to a friend’s house I past by 4 Large Billboards, 2 of which were computerized, 2 bus stop advertisements and today I have watched TV for about an hour & a half total, but have seen 5 Catholic TV Commericals.

What is going on?

Calling the lost sheep home. youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6qZd_xP1w

Six months after the media campaign ended, a comprehensive analysis was conducted, which revealed the average increase in Mass attendance was 12 percent, even though population growth was flat during that period. This equates to an increase of as many as 92,000 souls who came back home!

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Calling the lost sheep home. youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6qZd_xP1w

Six months after the media campaign ended, a comprehensive analysis was conducted, which revealed the average increase in Mass attendance was 12 percent, even though population growth was flat during that period. This equates to an increase of as many as 92,000 souls who came back home!

Wow, sounds impressive!

 

[ConfusedTim]

On the face of it the figures are impressive, however, i am a bit sceptical of them. In particular, why was it not followed up in other areas if it was so successful?