CATHOLIC CONVERTS-Family&Friends reactions 2 your conversion?

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How did everyones family or friends react to your decision to convert to Catholicism?

My family was somewhat mixed,however,I can say that all of them except my Dad did not really agree with me. It seemed as though they were disappointed.
One of my friends has not called me since I left the Church we attended. I have seen him a couple times and he acts really strange around me. Oh,well.

Here are a few questions and small talk they have made.

1-Mom-“How does it feel praying to the Pope?”

2-Sis- “All the Catholics I know in high school felt they could do whatever they wanted then confess”

3-Mom-“Do you now feel that only Catholics will be in Heaven?”

4-Mom"Priest are just regular guys who sin,too.I don’t see how they can turn bread into Christ"

I could think of more but I have to go cook breakfast.

Have a Bless Day. Reach out to someone today.Sometimes reaching out is God reaching in

shine,tim
 
I was actually surprised how receptive my family was. My mother was curious, her soon to be husband wasn’t thrilled. In fact he belittled my conversion and told me that I had no clue about the world around me and that organized religion is " a crock of…". He’s the only negative side of the story though. My stepmother’s family is very active in a local Baptist church and they have not shown any anti-Catholic tendencies to this point.

I think honesty is the best policy here. Don’t try to hide behind your faith because people will become suspicious but also try not to wear your faith on your sleeve if you know that it will cause infighting.
 
harrisunt said:
Don’t try to hide behind your faith because people will become suspicious but also try not to wear your faith on your sleeve if you know that it will cause infighting.
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I really needed to hear that today. Especially the part about not wearing it on your sleeve. I have been guilty of that up until very recently. I guess I am just so excited about my new found Faith that I want the whole world to understand. I have compassion for people that bash the Catholic Faith but at the same time I have had days where I want to retaliate and explain the deal. I don’t like when I get in that sense of false pride. I can be of no use to anyone or God when I am like that.

Today my prayer to God is to allow Him to Shine through me without me saying a word.
 
Yah that sounds about right…

When they get on your case, the best is to take it with a smile and say thank you for your concerns at the end of it. It’s not worth it to engage in debate about anything, and also never try to impose your beliefs. No matter what the taunts, take it in stride, and pray for them.

I will pray for you, we are going through the same thing my friend,

revelations
 
“Somebody shut me up so I can live out loud!”
:extrahappy:
~TobyMac~
 
I forgot to mention the one comment from a friend that blew me away.This is a direct quote from an email.

“I do have reservations about Catholicism. Mainly because so many Catholics strip Jesus of his title Christ Son of God, The Word, the Word that was with God, The Who that is God, and The Word who became flesh and lived among us”

She feels that Catholics don’t put much emphases on Jesus.:eek:
 
Reactions from my family and friends varied. Most were stunned into silence at first. Eventually questions started coming. My initial reaction was to defend and become frustrated (after all, why didn’t they understand too?!); then I was reminded that everyone has their own journey and my focus has been to, as St. Francis said, “preach the gospel at all times; use words if necessary.” When I get the sarcastic comments/questions, I say very little, if anything. It’s not edifying to fight about it and I now refuse to take the bait.

However, a couple of my family members have asked sincere questions about the Catholic Church. As a result, we have had great conversations about the Catholic faith and what the Catholic Church really teaches (as you know, there are many misconceptions, myths, and outright lies that many Protestants are taught and believe). Additionally, I have had family members come to me with problems/issues and ask for advice. One such problem involved issues with the pastor of the church my family member was attending. In the course of the conversation, we talked about what Jesus intended the Church to be and why Protestant doctrine doesn’t mesh with that. I don’t expect this person to immediately convert, but God opened the door for seeds to be planted, and it was she that came to me, not me forcing the issue with her.
 
My family knew that I was attending a Catholic church because they knew I was a hired musician there. I told them of my impending confirmation at Christmas dinner, right in the middle of the meal. My mother shrieked, “WHAT!!!” and my brother said, “Ugh” or something along those lines. My father was silent, and the conversation dragged for awhile. I really think they would have taken it better if I had told them that I was becoming a Wiccan, or was gay, or whatever…but Catholic!!! :eek: Being non-religious former Protestants, they didn’t have any theological arguments to throw at me, so at least I didn’t have to deal with that. I was living an hour away at the time, so I simply went home and went about my business of becoming Catholic, and we didn’t discuss it any more. My long-time best friend simply said, “Well, you can always become un-Catholic once you decide it isn’t for you.” :rolleyes: But here it is, ten years later, and I’m more Catholic than ever! :heaven:
 
I can only think of one ‘way’ to respond to the types of questions/remarks that are described in the OP.

“Would you like to have a real discussion about it?”

“Would you like me to explain it to you?”

(All asked in a very genial and understanding way)

Usually the commenter/questioner will have to acknowledge that, ‘Um…no…I just wanted to make a point’

But your responce can always be, “If you think about it, it’s not all that fair for you to come at me with a question that you really don’t want me to respond to. Please don’t put me in that position. But your more than welcome to bring this up when you’re ready for a two-way conversation where both sides get to talk.”

Really, this all can be said with honesty, and compassion that shows no ill-intent. Not only that, but even if your ‘inquisitioner’ doesn’t respond in the positive, it’ll force him/her to think.
 
MCGar
I guess you don’t have church of Christ family. Because while your tying to talk about your faith all they’re doing is trying to think of the next thing to say to help you from being cast into eternal damnation. NO. In order for meaningful dialogue to take place both parties must be open to discuss with respect their beliefs. The fact is that many Protestants do not respect Catholics that make decisions not to argue. That is probably one of the reasons so many Catholics seem to not know the faith. They have been taught to be passive about defending the faith, especially with Protestants that proselytize. I’m a thorn in the side now to both Catholic and Protestants that lean to the anti-Catholic side.

Thank God I haved a strong scriptural background now, not only to show Protestants what we believe but to show Catholics that we should read scripture and can defend our beliefs. The concept of not arguing typically is perceived as not saying anything. That’s simply not true. There are many things we can do and say to show that the truth can be defended.

Only 2 simblings from my wife’s family know that we have converted. One dropped out of Lubbock Christian to be a preacher after realizing that he thought that faith was “full of it”. He’s taking it well. The other sibling is a sister whose children do not go to church at all, and prefered since they have a better chance of returning to the “one true church” before they die and go to hell. My wife is the baby of 8. Her daddy was a bishop and the 2 oldest brother are preachers and since women are not treated with the dignity and respect like in other faiths and especially with the Catholic faith she is not important. When they find out about our conversion, they will blame me, even though this started for her way long before I even met her. God converted her and me back along with her. I feel like the fool now for having dropped the priesthood. But God must have brought us together…long story. But not everyone has it as easy as you some of you. At least they talk to you. Typically we will be cut off until we are open to listening to them proselytize or they finally just give up. We pray that they give up.
 
vocatio said:
MCGar
. But not everyone has it as easy as you some of you. At least they talk to you. Typically we will be cut off until we are open to listening to them proselytize or they finally just give up. We pray that they give up.
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I am sorry you are going through a tough time with this. Your conversion experience may help countless others who may be or will be going through a family experience like yours. I have no doubt in my mind about that.

Prayers for you and everyone else going out:signofcross:
 
My husband and I are both converting, along with all four of our children, and we (surprisingly!) didn’t receive any grief about it from our family or friends. My mom very simply asked, “Why?” and I answered her. 🙂
 
I’ve had it pretty easy.

My parents aren’t Christians, so they don’t really get it, but they didn’t get it before either. 🤷 There were a couple of interesting conversations with my mom about it all. The whole Catholics don’t think for themselves and just blindly follow the pope deal. They went well though.

My friends from my old church took it well too. They were surprised, I can’t blame them for that though. I didn’t really talk about it until I made the decision. They were supportive and a couple of my close friends came to my Confirmation/First Communion. 😃

I came from a United Methodist Church and I think that made it easier. Coming from the more liberal side of the spectrum I think you get more people who don’t really understand why I would want to convert, but not so much the anit-Catholic stuff.
 
Kettle, what faith are they or ya’ll from? …never mind…I checked your blog out.

Methodist typically realize where they came from. Our pastor told us about a month ago that his Protestant friends used to say Methodists are Baptists that know how to read. I could conjecture what he meant by that having come out of an Evangelical Fundie group too. But he was responding to some of the attacks against my oldest son who was wearing a shirt with the number of abortions boldly printed across his shirt. He gets teased about being Catholic now. Even his friends from the faith seem to realize the extremeness of their own Church. But the Methodists seem to try to be “ecumenical” by accepting gay marriages, abortions and all other sorts of things that the Catholic Church teaches as wrong.

Most Methodist get along with me or visa versa. I have good friends in my past from that faith. But Methodists typically do not engage in fundie anti-Catholic rhetoric.
 
When I first converted, my family wouldn’t speak to me for months, the didn’t want to have anything to do with me. Then they kept giving me Chick Publications literature and tapes blaspheming the Church and especially the Blessed Virgin Mary. Of course they don’t understand how sick all that stuff is, they only know what they’ve heard and they won’t let me explain anything, they think I’m trying to cast a spell on them! It’s a trip. :rolleyes:

So, now they’ve calmed down, but we are not able to discuss it at all, and I still get the inevitable reiteration of Fundamentalist doctrines thrown around on occasion, I just ignore it and move on at this point. I think that it will take more than me explaining everything, it will take a dramatic living out of the faith to make some kind of impression. I hate to think about what that will entail.😊:gopray:
 
Has anyone had any sort of success in regards to passing along certain books? I lent my copy of Born Fundamentalis,Born again Catholic to my Mom. She only read about 2 chapters and told me that Priest are sinners,too and can’t be sinless. I left it at that.

What other writings have others read that made an impact on you?

Also,does anyone know that GK Chesterson quote he makes in regards to someone finding the truth in the Catholic Church? I can’t find it and don’t remember where I read it. I hope someone knows whcih one I am talking about.He has many but this one talks about being so amazed at the layers of Catholicism and that it just keeps unfolding. The words he uses to describe it are beautiful.

`
 
I found the following helpful when I was looking for information on the Catholic faith (which is what God used to get me here 🙂 🙂 ).

Rome Sweet Home by Scott & Kimberly Hahn
The Lamb’s Supper
Hail Holy Queen both by Scott Hahn

Can’t think of the name of the book, but Steven Ray is good also.
Thomas Howard has some really good books detailing his conversion experience and on the Catholic faith in general.
 
joamy said:
Can’t think of the name of the book, but Steven Ray is good also.
Thomas Howard has some really good books detailing his conversion experience and on the Catholic faith in general.
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Steve Ray’s book is called “Crossing the Tiber”. That one really helped in my conversion. He also has a book “Upon this rock” that’s about the papacy which I found helpful as well. 🙂
 
I converted 7 years ago and am still getting Jack Chick tracts and other anti-catholic materials in the mail from my family. Friends make “slips” about my faith quite a bit. I’ve learned it ignore it all and thank God for the messages that prove I’ve make the right choice. The Lord said others would hate us as they hated Him so they just confirm my decision.
 
As it gets closer to Easter some of my family have begun to panic. At first my “interest” was quietly ignored, recently my dad was taken aside by my aunt to have a “talk” because she is concerned about me (she’s a Baptist). This same aunt also recently gave me a book,
The Two Babylons. She got it from the other side of the state through interlibrary loan! As someone who doesn’t read she must be really concerned about my soul to go through all the trouble.
I guess I need to find a book to reciprocate with…
 
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