Britain's most senior Roman Catholic leader is planning to welcome thousands of lapsed believers back into the practice of their faith - by text message.Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, is adding his authority to a massive recruitment drive launched tomorrow to boost the numbers of worshippers over the Christmas period.
He will send a text message to anyone who responds to the campaign, called "Come Home for Christmas".
Mgr Keith Barltrop, the director of the agency, said there had already been a huge response from people seeking to become active in the practice of their faith again.
"We've been absolutely inundated with enquiries and requests for more information and resources," he said.
People responding to the campaign will be invited to text 'REACTIV8' to 81025 in order to receive the Cardinal's message.
The campaign is the final phase of an initiative which has involved Catholics making deliberate efforts to try to win back those who say they no longer care about religion.
The vast majority of the 4.3 million Catholics in England and Wales are lapsed in the sense that they do not attend mass each week.
The Cardinal's text message will read: "My dear friends, a warm welcome awaits you.
"At your own pace and in your own time, we'd be interested to hear your story and learn from your experiences.
"You are an important and much-loved member of the Body of Christ. Come."
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