Media Effort Draws 92,000 Inactive Catholics Back Home To Church

[OneTrueCathApos]

So why does this group never seem to talk about the latest numbers only the ones from the first airing?

If you’d like numbers, then I’ll give you some numbers. More than half a million different visitors from all 50 states and 80 countries have visited the website since the spots first aired. The 92,000 documented Catholics who came home are just that. documented. There is nothing more here to beat like a dead horse. It is what it is.

 

[kalt]

That would represent 16.5% of the Phoenix diocese (according to the last figure I have of 557,000). A notable achievement. I think we can assume that some inactive Catholics remained inactive, my guess would be two to three times as many. These people are basically unchurched, but will say they “used to be Catholic” when some other church reaches them.

If we take this figure and extrapolate across the United States, 16.5% would represent 10,662,000 people who are currently inactive, but reachable, Catholics across the United States at a minimum. That is a huge potential market for some aggressive evangelizer. The Latin Catholic church should fund a vigorous nationwide rollout of this program before it’s too late.

I’m not convinced that you can “extrapolate” the numbers from one area to calculate the numbers of Catholics in another area (you would underestimate the number of Catholics in my area).

At any rate, the campaign is a big success!!

 

[Hesychios]

I’m not convinced that you can “extrapolate” the numbers from one area to calculate the numbers of Catholics in another area (you would underestimate the number of Catholics in my area).

At any rate, the campaign is a big success!!

You are right, it’s an estimate.

What stuck me was that the numbers of non-practicing Catholics are very hard to come by, and here we have a diocese validating that at least 16% were non-practicing and came back long enough to be counted.

I don’t know if I should say this here, but I think at least 40% of the total population of Roman Catholics in the USA is non-practicing.

If this media campaign is as productive as the OP has claimed, it should be expanded. But everyone should realize that a media campaign will not replace boots on the ground. If there are not sufficient volunteers to visit people and proclaim the Gospel, answer questions and listen to complaints in a caring manner, the results will go foof! like a cake collapsing in the oven.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

You are right, it’s an estimate.

What stuck me was that the numbers of non-practicing Catholics are very hard to come by, and here we have a diocese validating that at least 16% were non-practicing and came back long enough to be counted.

I don’t know if I should say this here, but I think at least 40% of the total population of Roman Catholics in the USA is non-practicing.

If this media campaign is as productive as the OP has claimed, it should be expanded. But everyone should realize that a media campaign will not replace boots on the ground. If there are not sufficient volunteers to visit people and proclaim the Gospel, answer questions and listen to complaints in a caring manner, the results will go foof! like a cake collapsing in the oven.

Source for the 40%?

 

[kalt]

You are right, it’s an estimate.

What stuck me was that the numbers of non-practicing Catholics are very hard to come by, and here we have a diocese validating that at least 16% were non-practicing and came back long enough to be counted.

I don’t know if I should say this here, but I think at least 40% of the total population of Roman Catholics in the USA is non-practicing.

If this media campaign is as productive as the OP has claimed, it should be expanded. But everyone should realize that a media campaign will not replace boots on the ground. If there are not sufficient volunteers to visit people and proclaim the Gospel, answer questions and listen to complaints in a caring manner, the results will go foof! like a cake collapsing in the oven.

You seem to be trying very hard to find fault with this program. Say the program is only 1/2 as “productive” as teh OP claimed–is that a problem?

You do make a good point about having “boots on the ground”.

Can we count on you to head up that new program in your area? To campaign for its acceptance? To run it? To recruit volunteers? To organize those who will organize the funding needed?

It’s a big job, but you seem to know what’s really needed to bring people back to the Church, and the Church could use someone who’s willing to commit to the Church.

 

[Hesychios]

You seem to be trying very hard to find fault with this program. Say the program is only 1/2 as “productive” as teh OP claimed–is that a problem?

No, I am only pointing out that there is a big job ahead and that needs to be addressed. You are the one imagining that I am saying “the program is only 1/2 as “productive” as teh OP claimed”. I never said anything like that.

Do you think the OP is suggesting that all non-practicing RC in that diocese came back?

It is nice to see some figures come out of a diocese confirming the problem, though. I twice suggested that the program be expanded, and you overlook that and seem to accuse me of malice.

Frankly, I was trying to make helpful suggestions. The Roman Catholic church is not the only one with the problem of non-practicing membership. My advice would be the same for any. If you don’t want to discuss how this program can be effective across the country you can just ignore my posts.

You wouldn’t happen to know where we can find the average Sunday attendance for the various dioceses of the church, do you?

My idea of 40% is a conservative estimate based upon my own observations of friends, neighbors and family across the United States. You may not agree, I don’t really care because it is based on my very unscientific personal observations.

Good luck in your efforts.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

You are right, it’s an estimate.

What stuck me was that the numbers of non-practicing Catholics are very hard to come by, and here we have a diocese validating that at least 16% were non-practicing and came back long enough to be counted.

I don’t know if I should say this here, but I think at least 40% of the total population of Roman Catholics in the USA is non-practicing.

If this media campaign is as productive as the OP has claimed, it should be expanded. But everyone should realize that a media campaign will not replace boots on the ground. If there are not sufficient volunteers to visit people and proclaim the Gospel, answer questions and listen to complaints in a caring manner, the results will go foof! like a cake collapsing in the oven.

You know nothing about the faithful 1.5 Billion Catholics in which most of them and I repeat, most of them practice and love the Lord. SHOW ME THE SOURCE. There are many non-Catholics who do not practice their faith. More than Catholics. Trust me.

 

[Hesychios]

You know nothing about the faithful 1.5 Billion Catholics…

That would be 1.15 Billion, according to the AP.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

That would be 1.15 Billion, according to the AP.

And growing.

 

[kalt]

No, I am only pointing out that there is a big job ahead and that needs to be addressed. You are the one imagining that I am saying “the program is only 1/2 as “productive” as teh OP claimed”. I never said anything like that.

I didn’t say that. Re-read my post. I said, “Say the program is only 1/2 as productive ast he OP claimed…” That is not the same as saying that you believe it was only 1/2 as productive. It’s actually asking you, What if the program is only 1/2 as productive? It’s saying that even if it were only 1/2 as productive, it would be a success. I feel like I’m teaching ESL here.

Do you think the OP is suggesting that all non-practicing RC in that diocese came back?

Where did you get that?

It is nice to see some figures come out of a diocese confirming the problem, though. I twice suggested that the program be expanded, and you overlook that and seem to accuse me of malice.

Frankly, I was trying to make helpful suggestions. The Roman Catholic church is not the only one with the problem of non-practicing membership. My advice would be the same for any. If you don’t want to discuss how this program can be effective across the country you can just ignore my posts.

Or you could quit finding fault and commit to action.

You wouldn’t happen to know where we can find the average Sunday attendance for the various dioceses of the church, do you?

If you need that information to be productive with it and not merely critical of others’ effort, I’ll find it for you.

My idea of 40% is a conservative estimate based upon my own observations of friends, neighbors and family across the United States. You may not agree, I don’t really care because it is based on my very unscientific personal observations.

Good luck in your efforts.