Catholics Can Come Home Again!: A Guide for the Journey of Reconciliation with Inactive Catholics

I moved not too long ago and as I was unpacking I came across Carrie Kemp's CATHOLICS CAN COME HOME AGAIN: A GUIDE FOR THE JOURNEY OF RECONCILIATION WITH INACTIVE CATHOLICS. I had purchased the book a few years ago as a reference guide for ministry, but it went on a shelf and stayed there until my move. I perused it while unpacking and found a few tidbits that I thought were interesting. I decided to read it to see if it would he helpful in ministry and after reading it decided that the title is misleading. Yes, Catholics can come home again, but it's far more than just a guide for helping inactive Catholics reclaim their faith. It has something to offer any Catholic on any stage of the faith journey. The book is based on the experiences and ministry of its author Carrie Kemp. She, like many Catholics, stopped practicing her faith but gradually returned. She then began an outreach program for other Catholics who have likewise stopped practicing their faith but wish to rediscover the riches that are a part of the Catholic faith. The book is both the story of this ministry and some of the techniques used by the author. The information she provides will assist anyone working with people who are trying to return to the practice of the Catholic faith and no doubt could be adapted to other faith traditions too. While the book is aimed at ministry for inactive Catholics, my guess is that it can be used for a variety of groups within a church setting. A quarter of the book is dedicated to issues that separate that deal with small issues that can alienate to the larger issues that have dominated the headlines. While many of these issues have driven some Catholics away, there are a number of people who have never left the pews that have been affected by these issues as well but have never had the opportunity to discuss them. The author handles the issues in a matter of fact way and presents the material free from opinion, stating the issue and giving responses from people who have been involved in her ministry. This information can be a great resource for anyone wondering how Catholics feel about certain issues and the range of opinions among believers. This book will certainly be an indispensable guide fro anyone working with alienated Catholics. It would also be helpful for people developing an RCIA programs or anyone involved in adult education and ministry.

Karrie Kemp, the author, has provided a much needed resource for those who are contemplating their return to the Catholic faith. She gives many illustrations of the journeys people have traveled in their separation from and return to the Catholic Church. To quote from the book; "We have come to see Catholic evangelization as the ongoing response to the presence of God in our lives, not preaching our truth to others, but an effort to help others discover the good news of God's power within themselves." This illustrates the pastoral attitude of the book. In chapter 5, "The Issues That Separate", she addresses, among many issues, that of "Divorce, Annulment, and "Remarriage." This is an issue that not not only affects "Returning Catholics" but many who want to better understand their personal situation in the Church. This discussion is missing from many other texts that I have read on "Returning to the Catholic Church" Anyone who is considering their return to the Catholic Church will benefit greatly from this helpful book.