Diocesan Resources
Outreach to the Unaffiliated (2020)
Outreach to the Unaffiliated by the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, 2020
The phenomenon of the rising number of people who are disaffiliating from the Catholic Church—and religion altogether—presents a challenging cultural situation for the Church today. However, as Pope Francis reminds us, “challenges exist to be overcome! Let us be realists, but without losing our joy, our boldness and our hope-filled commitment. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of missionary vigor!” (Evangelii Gaudium, no. 109).
While our current historical moment represents a crisis in the life of the Church, it is also a beautiful invitation, a kairos for us. Perhaps, it is serving as a summons to smart and spiritually alert catechists, evangelists, and witnesses, willing to give their lives to the great task before them.
Identifying who the disaffiliated are and seeking to understand their motivation should be a top priority in the life of the Church.
The Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis has prepared this booklet to accompany the video resource for bishops in an effort to answer the questions:
- Who are the unaffiliated?
- Why are they leaving?
- How do we get them back?
Transitioning from abstract reflection to evaluation of next steps to address this challenge will depend upon the unique character and culture of each diocese. We recommend that you watch the video together with staff from your pastoral offices and use the following booklet as a discussion guide to create a plan on how to engage this task in your diocese. We encourage you to contact our Secretariat through the channels outlined on the back cover if you are looking for specific resources and models that can be adapted for your needs.
How Can We Get Them Back?
Five proposed "path" for evangelization:
- Path of Justice
- Highlight Church’s commitment to justice and care for the poor.
- Use service opportunities as evangelization entry points.
2. Path of Beauty
- Leverage art, music, and cultural beauty to invite deeper engagement.
- Foster creative storytelling and media that reflect Catholic vision.
3. Path of New Media
- Use social and digital media to reach modern culture.
- Invest in media departments and share positive Church stories.
4. Path of Parish Transformation
- Shift from programmatic to relational evangelization.
- Equip families and parishes to become missionary communities.
- Focus on pivotal life moments (youth, college, marriage, parenting).