Some more thoughts on the Catholics Come Home ad.

Rod Dreher may like the commercial, but I think it may be a bit too sentimental, and hence not really aimed at promoting a true conversion. Sure, the emotions (and the perception which they follow) may lead one to conversion, but feelings in themselves are not sufficient for conversion. What is needed is a conversion of the heart. Also, the commercial is focused on the (institutional) Church and the works it performs--rather 'pre-Vatican II' if one is to use one member of that that mostly useless historical/sociological division.

Because of the way it points out the good side of the institution, it reminds me of the posts I used to see around St. Joseph of Cupertino and in the bulletin asking Catholics if they had left the Church whether they wanted to come explore life in the Church again and to ask questions. Now, Catholics Come Home is probably more orthodox than many such programs, which seek to reconcile divorced/remarried Catholics and the like at the expense of orthodoxy and orthopraxy. (I have not looked at the website but I figure Immaculate Heart Radio has taken a look at those who pay for advertisements.)

Also, should not the primary focus of such an ad be on Christ, rather than on the Church? Did not Pope Benedict XVI in his latest trip remind us that Christianity is Christocentric? Would it not be better to ask people whether they have heard the call from Christ to return to His fold? Whether they feel that there is a hole in their lives because they are no longer present to Christ? It is difficult for a commercial to make generalizations and resolve the issues of those who have fallen away; such a discussion is better left to a one-on-one encounter with a priest or some other spiritual advisor. Still, I did like the mention that the Church is made up of saints and sinners, and this may be of some consolation to those who have left because they were scandalized by the behavior of other Christians.

Would it not be better if the commercial reminded Christians of their vocation, to love God with all their heart, with all their soul, and all their mind? To ask the question if they still hear this call, or have heard it recently despite no longer 'actively practicing their Faith'?

This question may be better asked by a live preacher, but is it not better for a commercial to take the same approach, rather than rely first on the use of images, memories, and feelings?

Edit: This one is better, for the reasons I gave above.