Facing our own obstacles to reaching inactive Catholics

By John J. Boucher | Special to The CFP

Some years ago, I consulted with a large Catholic diocese about the future of their parishes. They conducted extensive surveys, held a myriad of interviews, and meetings with active parishioners to find out what they thought should be their parishes’ priorities going forward. After more than a year, 52 possible priorities surfaced and were voted on by all active parishioners. One startling result of the voting was that priority number 52, dead-last of all active Catholic parish priorities, was reaching out to inactive Catholics!
It seems that we regular Mass-going Catholics face our own serious obstacles to reaching out to our inactive mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, grandchildren, extended families, friends, and acquaintances who are baptized, confirmed, and received the Eucharist.  Before we can be effective at inviting inactive Catholics back to Jesus and the Mass, we must begin to address what hinders us.
The desire to share the presence of Jesus with those we count as friends or family is a good thing. Such a desire is a gift from the same Holy Spirit who guided Jesus and the Saints. It can also lead to acts of compassion for those with spiritual malnutrition. But too often, obstacles put a damper on this calling from God. Not to worry, many Saints embraced such roadblocks, as occasions to ask for more of the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, mercy, zeal and patience, for the sake of others.

Individual Activity (5 mins.) Why don’t many active Catholics in your family, neighborhood, community, parish, or diocese evangelize or share faith with inactive Catholics and others? Rate the intensity of obstacles below that you encounter among other active Catholics. Circle a number under each obstacle on a scale of 0 (not an obstacle to evangelizing) to 5 (major obstacle to evangelizing).

Belief that one’s religion a private matter.     0    1    2    3    4     5

Fallout from the sexual abuse scandals, including the loss of credibility of some church authorities.     0    1    2    3    4     5
Inadequate knowledge of Catholic beliefs.
    0    1    2    3    4     5
Don’t know how to share their faith stories or the Good News of Jesus Christ verbally.
    0    1    2    3    4     5
Fear rejection by their peers if they try to share the Catholic faith with them.
    0    1    2    3    4     5
Experienced “confrontational evangelism style” of some Christians or of other religions (i.e., Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, etc.) and it scared them.
    0    1    2    3    4     5
Americans value of pluralism: “Live and let live.” They see all religions as being equal.
    0    1    2    3    4     5
They were hurt by the anti-Catholic discrimination they, their parents, or grandparents endured in this country.
    0    1    2    3    4     5
Afraid that speaking about their faith may become a mere recitation of formulas or creeds.
    0    1    2    3    4     5

Believe that their good actions (attending Mass, treating people with care, helping the needy, etc.) are all that is needed to evangelize others.
    0    1    2    3    4     5
Failed at trying to share our Catholic faith with someone in the past.     0    1    2    3    4     5
Lack of a vibrant Catholic parish community locally where someone being evangelized might be brought.     0    1    2    3    4     5

Evangelization is too hard and takes too much work.
    0    1    2    3    4     5

Believe that everything their parish already does is evangelizing others to Jesus Christ and the Church.     0    1    2    3    4     5

“Another obstacle to evangelizing or sharing faith that they experienced is…” (Please be specific):
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

Share the following with active Catholic family members, friends, or in a small parish group (10-20 min.):

Invite three (3) active Catholic friends, family members, or acquaintances (individually or together) to read this article with you. (If it helps you to break the ice, you might begin by asking each person, “Can you help me with the homework I have received from an article in The Catholic Free Press?”) Start sharing about their individual responses to the obstacles listed above. Just listen. After the others give their answers, share what your answers are.

Reflection Questions for Small Groups (10-20 min.)

What three obstacles (above) do you seriously struggle with in regard to evangelizing and sharing your faith with inactive Catholics? Why?

What are the top three obstacles to reaching inactive Catholics do your local Catholic group(s), committee(s), ministries, or parish seem to face?

What can we do together to help us overcome these obstacles?


– John J. Boucher, a frequent contributor to The Catholic Free Press, is a Catholic Evangelization Consultant, an administrator of the Facebook page, “Keys to Reaching Inactive Catholics,” at facebook.com/groups/keystoreachinginactivecatholics, and a member of the Parish Renewal and Evangelization Committee of the Diocese of Worcester.