Many parishes and dioceses are reaching out to those whom they continue to label “fallen away” Catholics, “lapsed” Catholics and “those who have strayed from the fold.” These attempts might be more attractive if they did not use such pejorative terms to label non-practicing Catholics. An attitude that seems arrogant and self-righteous is might not win the hearts and minds of non-practicing Catholics. Many of them feel they have had good reason to leave.

Look at Jeremiah’s heartfelt condemnation of the shepherds who have scattered the Lord’s sheep and driven them away (First Reading). Clergy sexual abuse springs to mind, as well as episcopal leaders moving predator priests around. Courageous lay people and women religious sometimes saw what was happening and called it by name, risking their jobs and livelihoods to do so.

Angry, bewildered parents and families of abused young people just leave the church. They don’t “fall away,” they don’t “stray,” they don’t “lapse.” Left by the church they love, they too left. Some sought peace and justice elsewhere; others, fearful and bitter, stayed away from any kind of church.

When the apostles were besieged, Jesus told them to come away by themselves “to a deserted place and rest.” Perhaps that’s exactly what non-practicing Catholics are doing.

Communities can support them, for instance in the Prayer of the Faithful. When was the last time you heard a petition for the victims of abuse, or for their families—that they may find justice, and lasting peace. It’s not a dead issue, not nearly, and silence deepens the hurtfulness.

Gregory Norbet’s “Come to Me,” which references Psalm 23, would be very apt for the Preparation and Presentation of Gifts in today’s liturgies:

Come to me, all who labor
and are heavy burdened
and I shall give you rest.

M.D. Ridge