July 22, 2010: Catholics come home

>> TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON.
>> IF YOU'VE BEEN AWAY FROM
THE CATHOLIC KHUFRN FOR BHAEFR
REASON, WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE
ANOTHER LOOK.
>> THE BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE
AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TO LURE
BACK CATHOLICS.
AND THE BRANDING GURU AND HIS
TAKE ON THE AD CAMPAIGN, AND
THE COMEDIAN TURNED SOCIAL
COMMENTATOR.
THE NEW BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE
KARLIN.
SEVEN DIRTY WORDS.
Closed Captioning
brought to you by AFLAC:
Ask about it at work.
GOOD EVENING, IF YOU'RE A
LAPSED CATHOLIC, THE BOST AN
ARCHDIOCESE WANTS YOU BACK.
CARDINAL OMALSEPLANNING A NEW
P.R. CAMPAIGN FOR CATHOLICS
WHO HAVE FALLEN AWAY FROM
FAITH.
THE MESSAGE MAY NOT BE RIGHT
FOR EVERYONE.
THE BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE IS
PARTNERING WITH CATHOLICS COME
HOME, A NATIONAL GROUP THAT
CLAIMS IT HAS BROUGHT 200,000
PEOPLE BACK TO THE CHURCH.
IN ONE AD THAT WILL BE SHOWN
IN BOSTON, THE GROUP TRIES TO
STOKE CATHOLIC PRIDE.
>> WE ARE THE LARGEST
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION ON THE
PLANET BRINGING RELIEF AND
COMFORT TO THOSE IN NEED.
WE IDICATE MORE CHILDREN THAN
ANY OTHER SCHOLARLY OR
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION.
>> ANOTHER AD TAKES A MORE
MACABRE TACT SHOWING MEN AND
WOMEN BEFORE ENTERING HEAVEN
OR HELL.
>> FULLY REALIZE OUR UNKIND
THOUGHTS, AND SELFISH CHOICES.
LED US AWAY FROM GOD, OUR
LOVING FATHER.
>> THE Ax+*FRP AFTERSAYS IT'S
RESPONDING, AND CALLS THE
CAMPAIGN A GENUINE INVITATION
TO COME BACK TO THE CHURCH.
BUT DONNA DUCEET, THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE SAYS THE AD TEAM IS
ARROGANT.
>> CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THEY HAD
SAID COME HELP US BUILD A
BETTER CHURCH.
WE NEED YOU.
INSTEAD, HERE WE R WE'RE
GREAT, COME ON BACK.
GET ON THE WINNING SIDE AGAIN.
>> MEANWHILE, VOICE OF THE
FAITHFUL SAY DESPITE THE AD'S
FOCUS ON GUILT, THE CHURCH'S
SEXUAL ABUSE SKANLDAL NEVER
COMES UP.
>> IT JUST ISN'T MENTIONED.
IT'S THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIFLG
ROOM.
THEY DON'T MENTION T. THEY
TALK ABOUT US REPENALTYING OUR
SINS.
HOW ABOUT A BIG GENERAL
REPENTENCE FROM THE HIERARCHY.
>> DESPITE CRITICISMS.
SHE APPRECIATES THE
ARCHDIOCESE'S EFSHTS.
GOD BLESS THE Ax+*FRN Ax+*FRP FOR
AT LEAST UNDERSTANDING THAT
YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN
INVITATION.
YOU CANNOT DO, AS POPE
BENEDICT WANTS TO DO.
STAND THERE AND SAY OKAY, ALL
YOU PEOPLE ARE OUT.
>> THE COMING P.R. CAMPAIGN
WILL ALSO INCLUDE DOOR
KNOCKING AND PARISH EVENTS.
WHETHER THAT'S ENOUGH TO
CONVINCE THE DOUBTEDING
THOMASES REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
JOINING ME NOW ARE FATHERED
REED, PRESIDENT OF CATHOLIC
TV, AND SCOTLANDRY, THE COFF
GENT SECRETARY FOR CATHOLIC
MEDEIA.
WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.
FATHER, WE WERE TALKING THIS
AFTERNOON, THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE THAT ARE CATHOLIC, AND
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BELIEVERS
AND DON'T NECESSARILY GO TO
CHURCH EVERY WEEK.
WHY DUE FEEL YOU NEED TO GET
PEOPLE BACK INTO THE CHURCH IF
YOU'RE A BELIEVE OR OR
SPIRITUAL WHY COME BACK TO THE
CHURCH.
>> I'M A PARISH CHURCH.
I WORK FOR THE CATHOLIC TV
NETWORK.
I WAS ORDINED TO WORK WITH
PEOPLE IN THE PARISH, AND IT'S
SAD FOR ME AND FOR ALL OF US
WHO TRY TO PRACTICE OUR FAITH
AND SEE THE PEWS HALF EMPTY OR
SOMETIMES VERY EMPTY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME
PEOPLE BACK BECAUSE THERE'S A
MESSAGE THERE THAT EMPOWERS
OUR LIVES AS CATHOLICS AND
FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST.
>> SO IT'S A MESSAGE YOU WANT
THEM TO TAKE AWAY BY COMING
BACK TO CHURCH?
>> IT'S MORE THAN A MESSAGE.
IT'S A RELATIONSHIP.
WE WANT TO WELCOME PEOPLE BACK
TO A RELATIONSHIP WITH A
PERSONAL GOD, JESUS CHRIST.
>> I WONDER HOW YOU RESPOND.
I KNOW YOU'RE ACTIVE IN THE
COME HOME CAMPAIGN.
THE FIRST ONE ON -- I'M NOT
MENTIONING, NOT DIRECTLY
PICKING IN ON ISSUES, THE
SEXUAL ABUSE CRISIS IN THE
ADS.
YOU MUST HAVE DISCUSSED IT.
AND THEY SAID, IS IT SOMETHING
WE BRING UP OR DO WE TALK
ABOUT IT WHEN WE GET PEOPLE
BACK?
>> EVERY CONVERSATION THEY
HAVE WITH ANYBODY THAT CALLS
MY OFFICE, IF IT'S A LONG
CONVERSATION, IT ALWAYS COMES
BACK TO THE SEXUAL ABUSE
CRISIS.
SO THAT'S EVER PRESENT.
BUT THE CAMPAIGN CATHOLICS
COME HOME SBENLDS TO DO,
THOUGH, IT RE-INTRODUCE AND
RETALK ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS
IN THE CHURCH.
THAT SECOND SPOT, THE ONE THAT
FOCUSES ON FOLKS AT THE END OF
THEIR LIVES IS BASICALLY
TRYING TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE WHO
ARE BURDENED WITH SIN,
BURDENED BY THE UGLINESS OF
HAVING STEPPED AWAY FOR A
WHILE AND ENCOURAGES THEM,
THAT YOU DO HAVE A CHANCE,
HOWEVER MANY DAYS YOU HAVE TO,
TO TURN BACK TO GOD.
SO THE FACT THOSE COMMERCIALS
TALK ABOUT THE CHURCH AND THE
GOOD IN THE CHURCH, AND THE
SECOND SPOT TALKS ABOUT
REESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP
WITH CHRIST, THAT DOESN'T
IGNORE, AS THE COMMENTER SAID,
THE ELEPHANT THT ROOM.
IT COMPLEMENTS THE ELEPHANT IN
THE ROOM, AND WE HOPE WHEN
PEOPLE COME BACK IN RESPONSE
TO THE COMMERCIALS THAT BEGINS
THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO
RECONCILE THE HURT THAT PEOPLE
EXPERIENCED THROUGH THE
VOOx+*USH CRISIS.
>> I GUESS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
WHY PEOPLE ARE SAYING YOU'RE
USING AN EXAMPLE OF AN ABUSIVE
DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIP AND
REPENTENCE OVER THAT, AND THE
PEOPLE LOOKING AT THAT ARE
SAYING WHAT ABOUT THE ABUSE --
WHY NOT USE THAT AS AN
EXAMPLE, AND TAKE IT HEAD-ON?
>> THAT'S SIN.
THAT'S A FAIR POINT.
IT'S JUST SO MUCH MORE TO OUR
CHURCH THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO
KNOW ABOUT, THAT TRANSCENDS
SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE
BEEN EVER PRESENT HERE WITHIN
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON FOR
THE LAST 10 YEARS FELT BOTH OF
THOSE SPOTS ARE SBENLDED TO
PRESENT AN EVERLASTING VIEW.
THE FIRST EPIC SPOT IS ABOUT
THE 2,000 YEARS OF
CONTRIBUTION THAT THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH HAS MADE TO THE WORLD.
AND THAT SECOND SPOT IS JUST
YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL CATHOLIC
TRYING TO REESTABLISH OR
DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
JESUS CHRIST.
SO THE SECOND SPOT, MUCH LESS
ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH
AND MUCH MORE ABOUT AN
INDIVIDUAL CATHOLIC OR
CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP.
>> WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE
EMPTY PEWS IN THE PARISH AND
LOOK AT STATISTICS.
HUNDRED THOUSAND CATHOLICS IN
THE BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE ALONE
DRIFTED OFF SINCE 2001, WHAT
DO YOU ATTRIBUTE IT TO?
OF COURSE, THE SEXUAL ABUSE
WAS PART OF IT, OF COURSE.
BUT IT'S GOT TO BE MORE
>> IT'S A DIFFICULT PERIOD OF
TIME TO LIVE IN THIS SOCIETY.
PEOPLES' LIVES ARE BUSY AND
SOMETIMES WE'RE SO DISTRACTED
WE FORGET THE RELATIONSHIPS WE
SHARE IN FAITH IS SOMETHING TA
CAN ONLY HAPPEN AT THE PARISH
LEVEL, AND THE ALL IMPORTANT
RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE AT
GOD, AND IN THE PERSON OF
JESUS CHRIST.
AND THE PLACE WHERE THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE
STRENGTHENED BEST IS ON THE
PARISH LEVEL.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE
DRIFTED AWAY FROM THAT?
>> THERE ARE FOUR REASONS THAT
CATHOLICS COME HOME, ONE IS
THAT FOLKS JUST LOST THE
FORMATIONAL TRACK AFTER THEY
EXPERIENCED THE SACRAMENTS AS
A CHILD, AND NEVER COME BACK.
THEY JUST DRIFTED.
MAYBE THEY MOVED AWAY AND
NEVER CONNECTED WITH THE NEW
LOCAL PARISH.
SOME FOLKS WERE HURT BY
SOMEONE IN THE CHURCH, AND
THEY NEED TO BE TOLD PLEASE
FORGIVE US, DON'T MAKE THAT AN
EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING A
RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
AND THEN THERE WERE SOME WHO
ARE PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES
WITH THE CHURCH.
FRANKLY, CATHOLICS COME HOME
RESEARCH, OF THOSE WHO COME
BACK SAY IT'S MAINLY PEOPLE
WHO JUST DRIFTED WITHOUT A
REASON.
FOR THOSE WHO LEFT BECAUSE OF
PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE, A
LOT OF TIMES THEY HAVEN'T HAD
A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH A
DEACON OR SEE IF THEY CAN
RECONCILE.
>> WHAT ABOUT THAT?
CAN THEY TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THE SOCIAL ISSUES THAT COME UP
EVERY TIME WE DO A STORE BETHE
KHUFRN, ALBEIT BIRTH CONTROL
OR ABORTION OR GAY CHURCH,
ORDAINING WOMEN.
ALL THOSE THINGS.
CAN THEY HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH YOU ABOUT THAT?
>> THEY CAN HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH ME.
VITHOSE CONVERSATIONS ALL THE
TIME FROM THE CONFESSIONAL TO
THE BREAKFAST TABLE IN THE
RECTORY, TO THE STREET CORNER
OR THE STORE, WAITING IN LINE
AT DUNKIN' DONUTS.
I'M PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE
TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND HAVING
A REASONABLE DISCUSSION.
CERTAINLY I BRING TO THE
DISCUSSION THE TEACHINGS OF
THE KHUFRN, AND TEACHINGS THEY
TRULY BELIEVE IN, OBVIOUSLY
BECAUSE I AM A CATHOLIC.
>> AND CARDINAL SHAWN THIS
WEEKEND, AS YOU KNOW --
>> AND THE SPRING, RIGHT?
>> WE'RE NOT DOING MOST OF THE
COMMERCIALS UNTIL THE SPRING,
'RE, EXACTLY.
WE WANT TO SPEND BETWEEN NOW
AND THE BEGINNING OF MARCH
PREPARING PARISHES AND
INDIVIDUAL MINISTERS IN THE
PARISH TO BE ABLE TO HAND THE
QUESTIONS FOR THE CATHOLIC
THAT IS WE PRAY AND HOPE
RETURN AND WILL BRING WITH
THEM TO THE CHURCH.
WE WANT THEM TO COME, BUT WE
WANT THEM TO STAY.
AND PART OF MAKING THEM SFAI
IS BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY WHEN
THEY COME WITH WHATEVER
QUESTIONS OR OBJECTIONS THEY
HAVE, WITH OUR FAITH, AND WE
HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH
THEM TO OVERCOME THEM AND
RECONCILE AND HAVE THEIR
TALENTS, AND EVERYTHING THAT
THEY ARE LEAD TO A STRONGER
PARISH AND STRONGER CHURCH.
>> AND MAYBE THE AD HAS A
DIFFERENT TONE.
COME BACK TO US AND HELP US
REBUILD.
MAKE IT MORE OF A TEAM THING.
DO YOU FEEL THAT WAS AN UNFAIR
CRITICISM?
>> WELL, THAT'S PART OF THE
PARISH STRATEGY WHEN THEY COME
BACK.
WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE DIMINISHED.
THAT 83% OF PEOPLE THAT CALL
THEMSELVES CATHOLICS DON'T
PRACTICE THEIR FAITH REGULARLY
ON SUNDAY.
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
EVERY CATHOLIC THAT PRACTICES
THEIR FAITH.
IF THIS PROGRAM DOESN'T LEAD
MASS ATTENDANCE TO GROW, WE'LL
CONSIDER IT A FAILURE.
PLUS, WE'LL FIND SOMETHING
ELSE.
THAT'S WHAT JESUS ASKS EVERY
CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN TO DO.
SHARE YOUR FAITH, WITNESS FOR
IT IN THE WAY YOU LIVE YOUR
LIFE, AND SHARE IT WITH
OTHERS.
THERE'S A BISHOP IN THE
MIDWEST THAT SAYS WHEN WE SEE
A GOOD MOVIE OR GO TO A GOOD
RESTAURANT, IT'S ALMOST RUDE
NOT TO SHARE THAT GOOD THUS
ABOUT THAT RESTAURANT
RESTAURANT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
BUT WE HAVE A CULTURE THAT
SAYS IF YOU SHARE YOUR FAITH
IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED RUDE
BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE AN
IMPOSITION INSTEAD OF A
PROPOSITION OF COME EXPERIENCE
SOME OF THE JOY I EXPERIENCE
THROUGH LIVING MY FAITH WITH
THIS COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE IS
RECEIVED BY THE PEOPLE THAT WE
HOPE THIS AD CAMPAIGN REACHES.
>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THE SPRING
CAMPAIGN.
SCOTT RANDRY, AND FATHER REED,
THANKS SO MUCH.
WHEN WE CONTINUE, THE INTERNET
CAMPAIGN RECEIVED 75 MILLION
VIEWS.
AWARD WINNING BRANDING GUER OW
DAN SCHAWBEL ON THE SPICE
CAMPAIGN.