CUL:Come back home (to Catholicism?)  by Doug Kuepper

   (Often one hears this in a Catholic parish, and it is directed to
former Catholics and Protestant Christians. The thinking behind this
movement was aptly put in print by a priest identified only as "Fr.
Tito." A copy of this was sent to Doug and Tammy Kuepper by a Catholic
friend to whom they sent a Gospel message.)

   "Whoever you are, wherever you are, come back to the church of your
roots. Why do you keep fighting the invitation that God gives you? How
can you forget your roots?

   "Why do you spurn the faith you received when as a child you were
presented for Baptism? You cannot remember how proud your parents were
on that day. They took you to church and tried to keep you from crying.
And when they were asked, `Do you want this child to be baptized in the
faith we have professed with you?' Proudly they answered, `We do.' And
at that moment God gave you three beautiful presents, Faith, Hope and
Love. So why are you now wasting your heart on a foreign religion or no
religion at all?

   "As a Catholic you spent your happy childhood, learning about the
great church that Jesus gave us. As a happy youngster you approached
the altar of our Lord to partake of His banquet, His body and His
blood. As a young bride or a gentle groom, you went to that altar and
filled with joy became one with your savior.

   "And Catholicism grew up with you, its beauty interwoven with your
life's adventures. In that faith you expressed ytour happiness, your
sorrews and your grief. In that faith you humbled yourself, begging God
to forgive all the wrong things you did. Filled with joy you left the
confessional knowing how much God loved you. And if you still think you
are a loost sheep, remember that the shepherd is still looking for you,
he is still searching to bring you back to the fold. He wants to
welcome you home.

   "Now you are grown up. You have heartaches and headaches. You
married and have a family of your own. Would you deprive your children
of the joy you knew as a happy child? Do you think for one moment that
no matter what your condition of life is, the church will ever disown
you? Would a mother ever disown an infant she bore in her womb? Was it
not that mother church opened for you the treasure of her groom, Jesus?

   "Love whatever you want but never disown the roots of your
ancestors. How can the church, your mother, ever offend you? Did she
ask too muich of you? Did you find the grass greener on the other side.
Were you stabbed in the back by your own mother church because life was
not as you imagined it to be? Do you condsider yourself such a big
sinner that not even your mother can forgive you? Do you really believe
there is no hope or place for you in your mother's arms?

   "Look at the whole world, look at everything around you. If they can
be of service to you, accept the challenge but never drive out that
which is of the home. Come back home, the doors are always open.