The History of The Coming Home Network:

Though not generally known, Protestant clergy and laity from across the denominational spectrum are coming home to the Catholic Church. This journey, though overflowing with endless joys and blessings, can also be traumatic. It often results in the loss of friends and family, as well as the loss of career and financial support. It usually requires a rethinking of one’s doctrinal and moral convictions, as well as one’s vocation as a child of God.

Nevertheless, clergy and laity by the hundreds are entering the Catholic Church with great joy. They come with great enthusiasm and commitment to follow Jesus Christ wherever He leads, even if this means coming out of their previously comfortable and familiar spiritual surroundings into the Catholic Church. Many of them come with great gifts for ministry, including years of training and experience, along with information and ideas for authentic Church renewal.

Sometimes the most difficult part of the journey occurs after they have come home. They may feel unwelcome in their local parish and disoriented by the hierarchical structure of the diocese. They may find themselves overwhelmed by the great diversity of religious groups and spiritualities. They may become particularly disconcerted when they discover the large number of Catholics who seem to know little about their faith.

Even as they find their way through all of these things into authentic Catholic life and worship, they may still yearn for some of what they have left behind. Having resigned from their pastoral ministries, clergy converts especially struggle now with how to continue using their gifts for ministry while also supporting their families. The goal of the CHNetwork is to assist the Catholic Church in fulfilling its mission of evangelization and its call for Christian unity, as proclaimed by Pope John Paul II in his encyclical, That They May Be One (Ut Unum Sint).