California Catholic leaders turn to TV ads to bring lapsed believers back into fold
By APWednesday, August 26, 2009
California Catholics try TV to draw churchgoers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Catholic leaders are turning to television ads in an effort to get the region’s lapsed churchgoers back in the pews.
Sacramento Diocese officials say the ads will target the estimated 800,000 Catholics in the region who do not attend church regularly. Weekly Mass count is about 136,500.
The diocese is one of eight in the U.S. running ads featuring Catholics talking about why they returned to the church. The Phoenix Diocese estimates that similar ads brought 90,000 Catholics back to church last year.
The Sacramento commercials are set to run 1,200 times over six weeks from Dec. 18 to Jan. 31.
Churches will be asking parishioners in coming weeks for money to help cover the $380,000 campaign.
Information from: The Sacramento Bee, www.sacbee.com
