More and more, we are seeing converts whose backgrounds are much stranger, theologically and socially, than any former Baptist or Episcopalian. Have we noticed that they are coming in? Are we ready for them?
One way we can get ready is by understanding more about what life in cult does to a person, the wounds that may be left from years of spiritual and emotional abuse, from years of living in existential terror of violating dehumanizing and arbitrary — and constantly changing — rules. The people most equipped to convey this understanding to us are the people who have lived the experience of being in a cult, coming out, and coming into the Catholic Church. The richness of their experience cannot be overstated any more than can the depth of their gratitude. The one who has been forgiven much, loves much, and the one in whom the light itself has been darkness finds special joy in the true light.
Seriously, out of all the Christian churches, the Catholic church should be the best one equipped to deal with ex-cultists. The Catholic church has the longest history and the widest geographic spread for the most amount of time. You should he prepared for anything. But this article seems to say you have gotten lazy by adding people who already believe in Jesus to your church. This does not bring Jesus to those who haven't heard, it just becomes a shuffling game, and Protestants are already great at swapping members between denominations. I guess we can welcome the Catholic church to the Protestant shuffle now.
True but the article also says:
What has proved more difficult however has been finding ways to make use of the gifts and training that Protestant ministers bring with them and assisting them with their very special circumstance — that their conversion has met the end of their career.
Take, for example, the case of Alex Jones, a former Evangelical minister. The Church applied his enthusiasm and spiritual background to reach out to newcomers and Catholics who had lost their sense of excitement. From what I understand, he is now an ordained deacon.