L
lukefan
Guest
Any suggestions would be helpful - here is the problem.
I was raised Catholic, my mother converted to Catholicism when she married my Dad. Unfortunately my mother died at a very young age and my Dad although claims to be Catholic, has only been to mass a handful of times since my mother’s passing.
Out of six kids I am the only practicing Catholic with most of my siblings being cafeteria Catholics if that. One of my nieces recently began going to church and the subject of confession came up at a family get together over the Labor Day weekend. Her mother (my sister) also said there was no reason to confess your sins to a priest - it’s between me and God. Well, I being the vocal one proceeded into my apologetics trying to cite references in the bible and why the Catholic church believes in this practice. My problem is that every time I start talking about this generally I get the following response - “Why did you get into a religious discussion with Sharon (me)”…or from my protestant sister-in-law and her children just a dismissal of any Catholic discussion at all. Generally they just walk away. I certainly am not going to go chase them down because my intentions are not to convert them however I don’t even get the chance to defend my religion which they think is the evil of all evils. But I feel that it is my obligation to educate my niece in the Catholic religion as her parents don’t and she is showing an interest.
I’m alone in my fight in this family. I am bring my children up in the Catholic church and hate to go to family functions as it generally dissolves into a trashing of the Catholic church and my kids are unable to defend their faith just yet! But they will - God willing.
Does anyone have any suggestions - I am generally viewed in my extended family as a religious nut I guess!
I was raised Catholic, my mother converted to Catholicism when she married my Dad. Unfortunately my mother died at a very young age and my Dad although claims to be Catholic, has only been to mass a handful of times since my mother’s passing.
Out of six kids I am the only practicing Catholic with most of my siblings being cafeteria Catholics if that. One of my nieces recently began going to church and the subject of confession came up at a family get together over the Labor Day weekend. Her mother (my sister) also said there was no reason to confess your sins to a priest - it’s between me and God. Well, I being the vocal one proceeded into my apologetics trying to cite references in the bible and why the Catholic church believes in this practice. My problem is that every time I start talking about this generally I get the following response - “Why did you get into a religious discussion with Sharon (me)”…or from my protestant sister-in-law and her children just a dismissal of any Catholic discussion at all. Generally they just walk away. I certainly am not going to go chase them down because my intentions are not to convert them however I don’t even get the chance to defend my religion which they think is the evil of all evils. But I feel that it is my obligation to educate my niece in the Catholic religion as her parents don’t and she is showing an interest.
I’m alone in my fight in this family. I am bring my children up in the Catholic church and hate to go to family functions as it generally dissolves into a trashing of the Catholic church and my kids are unable to defend their faith just yet! But they will - God willing.
Does anyone have any suggestions - I am generally viewed in my extended family as a religious nut I guess!
