Conformation

[rdscheirer]

Was asked last spring to be sponsor for Comformation but now the candidate has reservations- church really EMPHASIZES the commitmant of conformation- he is not ready-wants to explore other religions. I told Dad and Mom that I too went thru that phase where you question the beliefs of your parents.His Dad and Mom attend Catholic church, he is in ninth grade.
and attend Mass He is very intelligent as I am -majored in Physics now am an MD- I’m a surgeon, but I have no idea how to talk to him- he doesn’t want to talk to anyone thst is even remotely afiliated with the Church because he says they wil try to sway his thoughts.

Any thoughts or

 

[Angel7]

Cutting himself off from all things related to The Church is a bad idea. You can’t be 100% impartial if you don’t listen to every view. If he ignores The Catholic view then he won’t find the answers to any questions he may have about Catholicism. It’s like putting yourself in a bubble almost. Encourage him to be open to the Catholic view.

 

[JamestheOlder]

Before you do anything, I would suggest you ask your pastor/priest for guidance.

My feeling would be to do three things:

1. Tell the child, face-to-face, that you do NOT understand his choice, but you will not try to convince him to be confirmed. Give him your phone number; tell him you will be available, any time he wants to talk about it.
2. Leave him alone. If you run into him, greet him warmly, and talk to him about any OTHER thing.
3. Pray. Pray for him every day. Pray particularly to the Holy Spirit.

We had a saying in RCIA: “The Spirit does as He wills.”

I fear that any other approach will turn him off permanently.

Peace.