When I was pastor of a parish church with a conservative order of nuns running the parochial school, I had a frequent debate with the principal. Her contention was that sacraments were for people who followed Church teachings very closely. (She passed over* children for First Communion if their families didn't attend Sunday Mass regularly. That's one example.) I said people never come where they're not wanted. If we didn't find a way to welcome people to the altar or the Baptismal font, they could never appreciate the richness of the Gospel. As a matter of fact, we never missed the chance to baptize a baby no matter the parents' circumstances. I'd see some of them in church after that.

Imagine the principal's surprise and anger when children she pushed out of the parochial school came to the sacraments through our Religious Ed department. Most of them continued to bring their parents to church after that. We need the biggest net we can find.

*yes, I used "passed over" deliberately.