Cyber Home for the Lapsed

I predict that some lapsed Roman Catholics will watch closely the developments that will occur in the post-Pope John Paul II world to see if the church changes enough to entice them back. It's hard to get those rituals from childhood washed from the soul and many lapsed Catholics miss them once they leave. But their anger over church practices prevents them from returning. Maybe the reforms inevitable in "Vatican III" will beckon some folks back to the fold.

David Gregorio, in his Reuters Internet Report takes a look at the wide variety of Web sites for lapsed and disgruntled former Catholics. The Once Catholic Web site, put together by the St. Anthony Messenger Press and Franciscan Communications of Cincinnati, Ohio, helps people hoping to make a return to the church.

Gregorio wrote: "It offers 'online companions' trained to answer questions in a compassionate and nonjudgmental way and a 'Help Room' listing parishes with 'welcome home' programs."