Ads running for the Catholic Church. Is this unusual or is this something they do all the time?

[mfcorey1]

They are inviting members to come home.

[LuvNewcastle]

1. I know that a lot of people have quit

going to Catholic churches. A lot of my friends are Catholic and most of them are pretty disgusted with their church. The child molestation and cover-up, the backward attitudes about sex and contraception, and the pronouncements against homosexuality have alienated a lot of formerly loyal Catholics. Some of these people I know come from solid Catholic backgrounds; they attended Catholic schools, got married in Catholic churches, and were involved in raising money for their parishes. It seems like all of this happened when Benedict became Pope. John Paul II was no more liberal than Benedict, but he was much more widely admired.

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. Better PR. Aside from that they appear to be twins.

Philosophically and politically, that is.

>>>It seems like all of this happened when Benedict became Pope. John Paul II was no more liberal than Benedict, but he was much more widely admired.>>>

But declining #s go way back... in the USA anyway.... to at least the 60's.

[blueamy66]

10. Spot on.

I am one of those that you describe.

Don't believe so much molestation occurred though. It's the pronouncement against homosexuality that makes me mad.

[eridani]

2. Grew up Catholic and never heard of such a thing n/t

[michaz]

3. It is simply to encourage non-practicing Catholics to come back to their church.

If they have been away for a long time it is to have them come back and see what the church has to offer and to take part in community service societies within the church, such as: visiting prisoners, feeding the hungry, etc.

[dembotoz]

4. looking to round up the kids who missed being molested

[customerserviceguy]

16. Looking to round up contributors

to fund the losses caused by having to pay for the molesters, too.

I'm so very glad to be an ex-Catholic. But it has a powerful influence on people. Two months ago, I went back to Gary, Indiana, and stood at the door of the church where I made my first communion, and had attended their school for first and second grade, all way back in the early 1960's. It did cause me to quiver a bit.

That's what these ads are going for, to see if they can rewire the brains that have managed to disconnect the hard-wiring that a church that has survived for 2000 years implants in people.

[Sherman A1]

5. These things go in cycles

it's like everything else. I wouldn't put much into it.

[Maeve]

6. "Come home for Christmas" has been around for at least 15 years

I remember seeing billboards like this in my last hometown, and I moved 15 years ago, so...

[KharmaTrain]

7. The LDS Has Been Successful This Way...

Just consider it another way of "spreading the word". Religions have always used the media of the day to try to either recruit or keep the "flock" intact. In the past it was through song or the printed word...now its through electrons.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. I know a few "lapsed" catholic friends

But I haven't heard them mention the advertising or any subliminal urge to rejoin.

And I don't know if the church is trying to reconnect with the ones they've excommunicated.

Maybe if they offered Happy Meals instead of mere pancakes ... (Does the Catholic churce have pancake breakfasts?)

:hi:

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. I'm holding out for a sale.

Prices slashed! BIG SAVINGS!!!

That sort of thing.

[KatyMan]

12. One of the awesomest posts ever...

well played Smarmie!

[Smarmie Doofus]

14. You should see my p.m. material. Killer. n/t

[GoCubsGo]

13. This is the first I have seen of it.

I was wondering about it all, too, as they've been running endlessly for the past few weeks around here. But, I noticed that you are in Georgia, and I get my TV from stations in Georgia, so I don't know if it's been going on elsewhere. The Church are losing people in droves, as others have pointed out upthread. This is just their way of trying to get us, and our monetary contributions, back. Thanks, but no thanks. Speaking for myself, I didn't just leave the Catholic Church, I left religion altogether. There is not a commercial campaign in existence that will get me to come back.

[Loge23]

15. Why not? It's a business after all.

Call it a club, or whatever, but in reality it's a business - just like most other organized religions.
Their hierarchy are very similar to mid-managers, and executives. CPA's monitor parish finances.
HQ? Ever visit the Vatican? Makes gold-plated toilet handles look cheap.