The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) reports that there are approximately 64.8 million Catholics in the United States today. Approximately 33% of this group are not practicing their Catholic faith. 

Based on research done by the U.S. bishops' Committee on Evangelization, in January 2000 Bishop Michael Saltarelli of Wilmington, Delaware, stated that most Catholics drifted away from the Church because they:

• Did not experience God's presence in their Catholic community,
• Did not experience warm, personal, caring relationships in encounters with Catholics,
• Saw Catholicism as complex and unrelated to their lives,
• Experienced hurt from clergy or lay Catholics,
• Came into conflict with Church teachings,
• Were easily misled by people who attack the Church,
• Were in marriages not recognized by the Church,
• Got busy and did not take the time to get involved
• Relocated but never reconnected with another Catholic parish.

Ways in which to reach out to those who have left the Church:

• talk to God about them before you talk to them about God
• listen to their stories
• extending an invitation to: a parish event, spiritual talk, Mass, parish celebration, small community, family gathering
• share your enthusiasm for your faith
• invite them to “come and see” and walk with them
• don’t criticizing, argue, or moralize.

Inactive Catholics are not anonymous people, they are our family members, co-workers, neighbors and friends. 

RESOURCES FOR INACTIVE CATHOLICS

PROGRAMS

ALPHA FOR CATHOLICS
ALPHA for Catholics is for people interested in investigating Christianity, newcomers in the Church, those who wish to brush up on their faith. Alpha can help people overcome any reluctance to share their faith journey with others. It helps people have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. ALPHA for Catholics refers to the promotion of the Alpha 10-week course for use within the Catholic Church. It is a basic introduction to Christianity and above all, brings us into contact, face to face with the Lord Jesus.

Contact: 610-409-2935 billdrennan@alphausa.org
www.alphausa.org

CATHOLICS RETURNING HOME
Catholics Returning Home (CRH) is a parish based program designed to reach-out and invite non-practicing/inactive Catholics to return “Home to the Catholic Church” and resume active practice of their faith. The six-week series is repeated three times per year. The program is a proven, step-by-step method that is ready to use. Just follow the instructions in the “how to” book, Inviting Catholics Home, and insert the parish name and specific information into the support materials.

Stories of Faith From Catholics Returning Home (Video)

Real stories from people who have drifted from their Catholic faith only to return homeagain. Used in conjunction with Sally Mews’ Catholic Returning Home Sessions.

Contact: 847-855-0629 ssmews@msn.com
www.catholicsreturninghome.org

LANDINGS
A comprehensive Paulist approach to welcome returning Catholics. It is a proven process designed to welcome those who for whatever reason have become inactive in the exercise of their faith. This ten-week ministry of reconciliation evangelizes active Catholics who help welcome back inactive Catholics.
Contact: 512-452-7566 joanlandings@aol.com
www.landings-international.org 

BOOKS  

A TIME TO LISTEN…A TIME TO HEAL - A RESOURCE DIRECTORY FOR REACHING OUT TO INACTIVE CATHOLICS (1991)
National Conference Of Catholic Bishops – Committee On Evangelization
Contact: www.usccb.org

CATHOLICS CAN COME HOME AGAIN! A Guide for the Journey of Reconciliation with Inactive Catholics , (2001), Carrie Kemp; Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ www.paulistpress.com

COULD YOU EVER COME BACK TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ? (1997) Society of St. Paul; Lorene Hanley Duquin 800-343-ALBA (2522)

INVITING CATHOLICS HOME (2002), Sally L. Mews
Liguori Publications, Liguori, MO
This book is about “Catholics Returning Home”, a six-week support program aimed at helping Catholics return to the Church. Suggestions for publicizing and implementing the program and recommendations for follow-up make this an effective evangelization tool.
Contact: www.liguori.org

PARISH MINISTRY FOR RETURNING CATHOLICS (1993)
Patricia Barbernitz, Paulist Press
Contact: www.paulistpress.com

REACHING OUT – A MANUAL FOR EVANGELIZING INACTIVE CATHOLICS
This resource packet, created by the Archdiocese of Louisville, is designed to assist parish communities in surfacing, inviting, and nurturing inactive Catholics to explore a return to Church. This comprehensive resource is designed to provide the parish with all the information required to successfully begin a ministry with alienated members. It includes a guide for the preparation of parish teams, facilitator training information, suggested processes for integration of returned parishioners, a bibliography, and an agency assistance sheet.
Contact: 502-636-0296 evang@archlou.org

THE MARGINAL CATHOLIC – Challenge, Don’t Crush (1989) Ave Maria Press
Joseph M. Champlin www.avemariapress.com

THE RECONCILING PARISH – A Process for Returning or Alienated Catholics
Patrick J. Brennan, A Resource for Parish Staffs and Leaders; Tabor Publishing, 1990

WHILE YOU WERE GONE – A Handbook for Returning Catholics (1995)
William J. Bausch, Twenty-Third Publications
Identifies the key questions and concerns of Catholics returning to the church after an absence of some years.
Contact: www.twentythirdpublications.com