For years, many parishioners have been leaving the Roman Catholic Church in the US, but the Catholic denomination still remains as the largest Christian denomination. Still, the Vatican has tried a number of different ways to reclaim its former followers and improve its image in the world, such as openly discussing and apologizing for the Church’s sexual abuse cases.

Some congregations within the Church’s communities have taken it upon themselves to reach out to wayward Catholics. Catholics Come Home is an organization that reaches out to both former and non-Catholics through the internet and social media, hoping to bring them to their local Catholic Churches.

I spoke with the pastor of St. Charles Church (Staten Island), Monsignor Thomas Bergin, about Catholics Come Home and the state of Catholicism today.

St. Charles Church, Oakwood.

He hasn’t heard of Catholics Come Home, but is was well aware of the drop in his parish’s membership.

Monsignor Bergin acknowledges that his parish has gone outside the Catholic norms to keep parishioners interested…

…but he also admits that there were good reasons why the Church has lost people, and that he understands the feelings of those who have left.

Still, Bergin urges disciples, both current and former, to return to the house of God.