Did your family accept your conversion?

[Angels_Unaware]

Thank you for sharing that, Angels Unawares.

I have two kids, nine and twelve. The twelve-year-old and I have epilepsy. We take medication, but we both still have seizures. She feels abandoned by God. She says that if there were a God, we wouldn’t have epilepsy. Also, my ex-husband, my children’s father, is a violent, perverted drug addict who doesn’t take care of my kids. She feels that if there were a God, stuff like this wouldn’t happen.

So, I know that this is going to be a hard sell for her. She isn’t the kind of kid that is satisfied with ‘because I said so’. I also know that if she does find God, epilepsy and abandonement (by her stupid dad) will be easier to deal with.

I wanted to add that I am so impressed and pleased with the local church. I told them that I want to take RCIA classes, but I don’t have child care because I just moved here and my child has seizures. The priest is doing so much to make it possible. We may be able to have one-on-one classes. I feel so welcome. I’m so happy.

Your 12-year old is actually thinking at a pretty sophisticated level, she must be a very intelligent child. These are the kinds of objections that adult atheists have, and for the same reasons- some painful experiences they are still carrying.

Maybe you could tell her that there are 3 ways to explain suffering. The first way is to say there can’t be a God. The second way is to do what the people who questioned Jesus about the man born blind from birth did, and say, you are being punished by God for either your own or someone else’s sins. The third way is to understand what Jesus said, and to answer that the man born blind from birth was born that way to show the power of God.

So, the pain she has suffered is to learn about love, and how to be compassionate to others in their pain, and trusting God to intervene in her life and care for her.

I am very glad you are being welcomed into the church. My youngest daughter has high functioning autism. She does not have epilepsy, but she had a seizure when she was 3 years old and we had to go through the EEGs and MRIs. It is not a fun condition to have, I know. It is a burden.

God bless you, and I hope that all of your experiences in RCIA are good.

 

[BlueBarn]

Thank you for your blessings, prayers, and advice.

AngelsUnawares, I am having my daughter evaluated for Aspergers/HFA.

 

[SJG1759]

Now, this may sound ridiculous to you because I am a 36-year-old grown woman. Why should I care what my family thinks? Right? But I do.

That’s not ridiculous at all, BlueBarn! There’s nothing wrong with wanting family harmony, no matter what your age. And since you’re a single mom, you need all the family support you can get!

I’ll pray for you and yours at Mass today.

 

[HarmonyServant]

My husband still thinks I’m taking a “step backwards” in faith by converting to Catholicism. It’s very disheartening.

 

[James_Miller]

No they did not accept my conversion or even try to. So I moved away.

 

[BlueBarn]

Thanks, SJG1759.

I’m sorry to hear that, Harmony Servant.

James miller, that’s awful. I understand, though. I recently moved pretty far away from my family, too, in part because of our different values.

I was talking to the priest yesterday about why I want to convert. He doesn’t understand how someone my age can not be baptized! I had to explain my religious background (or lack thereof) to him.

Talking to him, I did remember something important, though. When I was watching Pope John Paul II’s funeral on EWTN, I remember hearing them read a part of the bible in which Christ is talking to Peter, telling him that he needs to be the rock of the church. They were speaking Italian, which I understood because it’s close to Spanish, and I found that passage in my bible. Before that, I never knew where the ‘office’ of the pope came from. I didn’t now that Peter was the first pope. That piqued my curiosity.

I have visited a lot of churches before that and since, trying to find my spiritual home. When I read that, though, I realized why I am not comfortable in any of these other churches. It’s because people pick and choose one little passage or something, and they run with it. This has gone on for so long, that there can be as many churches and dogmas as there are neighborhoods, each one convinced that they’re right. The Catholic Church is the one that Christ founded, though.

So, I don’t mean to get preachy or boring, but I remembered yesterday, that that was actually when the light went off in my head.

Does anyone else have any epiphany stories?

 

[HarmonyServant]

The Eucharist for me. When I read John 6, it was almost like a two-by-four to the head. That verse really struck me, and I couldn’t deny His Presence. After that, the rest of the pieces fell together.

 

[Rafaela]

I grew up in a Lutheran home. The type of Lutheran is such that they’re pretty much Catholic-haters. In highschool, we had to take a class about other religions, Catholic included, and we were told why all those religions were wrong.

This could be from my life! My mom is in the family the one who always talks about Pope’s infallibility, and then comes crusades, witch hunts and inquisition… Followed by the horrible fact that catholic church is against woman’s right to choose, oh and the priests abusing their authority… I have, according to mum, become horrible religious fanatic (praying rosary and wearing scapular), and that’s all because of the Church.

I converted Easter 07’ when studying in another country, and must say that it is probably the only reason I had courage to do it. I would never want to change my life to what it was before. Must say though that marrying at age 22, and becoming our first child now aged 23, I do feel like a real radical or even counter-cultural living here in Germany

 

[jatkins29]

My wife and I and our 2 kids became Catholic in February after growing up in the Southern Baptist church. My dad is ignoring me now–hasn’t talked to me in about 3 months and my mom, while she says she’s ok with it, seems to criticize all of the Catholic teachings. It was the best decision we have ever made. We love God and love the Mass–what others think does not matter.

 

[jatkins29]

My dad also cried and began reading anti-Catholic books so that he could tell me that our decision was wrong and that we were following the anti-Christ. My dad actually said to me, “If you ever became Catholic it could cause me to have a heart attack.” He’s a retired Southern Baptist minister and very set in his beliefs. We did not tell my either of my parents we were Catholic until nearly 6 months after confirmation. Dad is completely ignoring us and mom just wants us to do what we feel is right. My wife and I agree that we aren’t going to let anyone’s disapproval of our decision come in between our relationship with God and with the Catholic Church.

Oh yes, I converted 3 years ago, and it made my father very very upset. I grew up in a strict Lutheran home. The type of Lutheran is such that they’re pretty much Catholic-haters. In highschool, we had to take a class about other religions, Catholic included, and we were told why all those religions were wrong. Recently my sister told me at their church they were having a Bible study session about Catholicism, and how it’s wrong.

When I told my dad that I was becoming Catholic, he was very upset. I think he was also angry with me. He actually cried and said things like “Why would you do this?!” “Now I’ll have to walk you down the aisle at a Catholic church!” “We’ll have to go to your children’s First Communion at the Catholic Church” etc, all of which really hurt me, and still kind of has put a strain on our relationship to this day.

A year ago I moved back home with my parents after I graduated college. So now it’s rather awkward on Sundays when they go to their Lutheran church and I go to Mass alone. But I still go, each and every Sunday.

Am I happy I did it? Yes, very much so. I have never been more happy and content in my faith life. I feel like a new person, and that I have so much more respect and honor for my faith. It was a hard journey, but the outcome makes you appreciate it more I think. If everything in life were easy, no one would appreciate what they had to put into it.

I do still think he’s unhappy with my decision. But that’s too bad. He has so many misconceptions about the Catholic church that I know what he thinks about the Church is lies and just plain wrong. I’m only hoping that by living the Catholic lifestyle, I’m helping him open his eyes and see that what he’s taught about the Catholic faith isn’t really true.

So I say, if you’re feeling a pull to the Catholic faith, go through with it. It will be worth it in the end. Your relationship with God will be so much better, and that’s what matters in the end. You never know, perhaps once you go through with it, it will open your mom’s eyes and she won’t be so upset.

 

[jwashu]

My family was/is Baptist and my wife’s family is… well, heh, even more!

I was raised Baptist but became Presbyterian in High School, what is funny is that sometimes some of her family members would ask, many years ago, “now are Catholic” and I would say “No I’m Presbyterian but I did work on a Catholic Youth Retreat once” and they would always just look kind of horrified. I’m not sure if it was the Catholic or the Presbyterian. Like a lot of fundies, anyone who isn’t an Evangelical is doomed… including the rest of the Protestants.

Anyway… they also later learned that I had been a Youth Director for a while when I got out of College and had considered the Ministry so that seemed to settle things. As my wife’s Grandfather was a Baptist minister and her cousin on the other side is a Baptist Youth Minister I had lively discussions with all, never having to concede my points.

When it looked like God was leading us home to Rome, her family was her biggest concern. I didn’t really worry because I could defend the Church (I studied for quite some time) against most anti-Catholic arguments because I had the books, the anti-Catholic ones from when I grew up so there wasn’t anything they could get me on… my wife however was concerned that they would say “she is just doing it because her husband is leading her that way.” As I pointed out to her, these are the people who take that “submit” verse literally though when it’s in their best interest.

However since we have been Catholic and even during the process no one has questioned us on it. We got a few stares with the sign of the cross at the last family reunion but the only person who really had anything to say was, from what I can tell, the only other Catholic in the family. She married in and wouldn’t become Baptist. Her story was quite funny because she said her husband, who isn’t that religious but will attend Mass with her from time to time had his brother come over to tell them she was bound for HELL, an idol worshipper etc… She said her husband let him finish and she just sat there then her husband replied that he had seen his wife attend Mass weekly, often daily, and had known her to have a devout prayer life and love the Lord since he had met her (I believe that had probably been married about 20 years at this point), yet until about the last week or so his brother hadn’t stepped foot in a church, drank heavly etc… for all that time… so that being that, he didn’t think he was going to question his wife’s faith.

I thought that was just grand!

Though Evangelical my wife’s mom came to the Easter Vigil (my wife had never been Baptized - it’s “optional” as a Baptist but not required for salvation) to see her Baptism and I know was a little board with all the Bible is our “non Biblical” service (we read a lot at the Easter Vigil FYI). My wife’s cousin, who is fantastic, but her husband and her are really big time Evangelicals now (especially into the prosperity gospel stuff) tend to look at us odd but no questions about it yet.

So while we continue to expect the big conversation no one has actually had the nerve, desire or possibly guts to bring up the subject in our presence… that’ just fine.

Our former Church friends from the Presbyterian Church are all still buddies, no question form them except for “why would you become Catholic, it’s much easier to be a Presbyterian” Which of course most don’t want an answer too but a couple have and I hope to see them in RCIA soon

Joe

 

[sparkletina]

Yes and no. I left the Church for couple decades. Evangelical (fundamental) Protestant. Theological crisis led to a year studying by myself. Didn’t tell anyone when I reverted, except my husband after a couple of weeks. When it finally got out, it caused an earthquake in my family. Numerous phone calls between east and west coasts. Everyone was shocked that someone who hated the Catholic Church (yeah, I did) and was a diehard Protestant could revert. No one understood why because there are so few of my generation still practicing.

Now, they accept it. But, whenever they hear anti-Catholic sermons in their churches, they rush to the phone to tell me about it and explain why I’m so wrong. But I’ve learned a lot since coming home, and can at least defend my Church, which I love and could never leave again. Best part: brought my mom back into the Church before she died. God has been so good to me!

 

[psr13]

My family upset? Never. Haha. That’s the biggest joke of the century. I will preface this by saying that my mom’s side of the family has been anti-Catholic for centuries. They were kicked out of Europe before America was a country for being Protestant. It’s deeply ingrained in my family. No one really likes the fact that I am Catholic. At first there were a lot of digs and jokes about it, but those have mostly ceased. The person with the biggest problem is my grandma. Since becoming Catholic, she does not like me. She used to love me, and now it’s the exact opposite. It’s so bad that I will not willingly spend time with her anymore. My mom, sister, niece, and I went on vacation on weekend to visit her. It got so bad that we left early, and my sister had to say something to her. She just would not stop what she was saying. Now, what she said had nothing to do with religion, but it was said because of religion. I was wearing a necklace with Mary on it. She asked me what it was. When I answered that it was Mary she rolled her eyes and kind of snorted. You aren’t alone, don’t worry.

 

[tinap]

I began looking into the Catholic Church after meeting the man I want to spend my life with, he is Catholic. I was raised in a Southern Baptist church but I was never comfortable there even though I got baptised when I was young and began searching out other churches. What I found was that not one of them was what I was comfortable with. I was rasied to believe the Catholic Church was the worst of all and so I never even considered it before. I even tried some pagan options.

My mother is the most supportive of my choice, but the remaining family is not so supportive although I have invited my younger sister and her husband to join us at Mass one Sunday when they wish. She did not say “no” so I am ever hopeful they will come since they have been shunned by thier church. My oldest sister converted to Catholicism a few years ago, but she has shunned most of the rest of the family even though I have tried to contact her on many occasions. I can only hope that somday she will come around and become part of our family again.

I start my RCIA classes tommorow, and I am so glad to finally have found the place I want to be.

 

[njmama]

My husband and were received into the Church this past Easter. My side of the family (maybe described as former Southern Baptist, now emergent people) was rather ambivalent and they still think we are a little nuts for submitting to the authority in the Catholic Church. My husbands side is all Pentecostal-- they try to be nice about it but are either out and out hostile (“Catholics stifle the Holy Spirit during the mass”) or say things like “well that’s good, now that you explain confession it isn’t nearly as creepy as I thought it was.” I guess that’s progress?

My atheist grandfather and ex-Catholic grandmother were horribly upset. They feel we’ve thrown ourselves to the lions, so to speak, and I’ve received a similar reaction from close agnostic/atheist friends. I’ve definitely had a better reaction from the staunch Protestants in my life than non-believing folks.

I hope it all goes well for you. Remember to be patient if your family starts asking questions, no matter how dumb or angry-- that is often a sign that their hearts are turning back towards you, at least. God bless you!

 

[leconn]

I have decided, in order to avoid any type of criticism or gossiping behind my back, not to tell anyone except my sons, 19 and 18, who were baptized in the Catholic Church, my boyfriend, who has helped me get started in my RCIA class, and one or two close friends. I have finally got to the point in my life at 48 that I don’t have to answer to anyone and I don’t have to justify any of my decisions!!! It’s such a liberating feeling!!

 

[BlueBarn]

leconn, I know what you mean. I’m grown, for goodness sake. I have to remind myself that my salvation is more important than tiptoing around so as not to offend a bunch of atheists (in my family).

 

[RedSoxWife]

Hi. I’m new here.

I have attended Catholic Church sometimes and I even started RCIA classes once. I loved it. While I was in class, though, my mother called and one of my kids told her where I was. She freaked out. She was very upset.

Now, this may sound ridiculous to you because I am a 36-year-old grown woman. Why should I care what my family thinks? Right? But I do.

When I convert, my whole family, not just my mom, might really be upset. They’re atheists, agnostics, etc, but not Christians.

Has anyone else dealt with their family being upset about their conversion? What happened? Are you glad you went through with it?

Thanks.

Hi and welcome!

My family was okay with it, but I think they think I’m a little crazy because we’re pretty traditional. I had more fall out from friends. One of my best friends haven’t spoken to me in three years (and I never even brought up the topic… some people get a little obsessed though). I think she didn’t like how I was changing… And being a part of Christ’s Church and receiving the Eucharist more then makes up for the loss, although it still saddens me. Coming Home to the Church is worth it!

 

[Jason_1977]

My father, the former catholic now episcopalian who was raised catholic but baptized by his grandmother in the living room…said I should embrace my faith. My mother…the one that is staunch on family unity was upset at the idea of me converting to catholicism, but also knows that I would do it with or without her blessing. I got congratulations cards from them on easter around the time I was confirmed, and my folks came down a month later & my mother left behind a book in my room called our church’s heritage. a history of the Church of England. She cannot STAND the idea of me being catholic but she will never say this to me. I tell her all the time when I go to the Monestary once & a while. I tell her from time to time that I feel much better after going to mass. MY MOTHER hasnt been to church in MONTHS…she goes for easter & christmas, that’s about it. I did what I did because it felt right. I felt a pull. Most definitely. God speaks to us all & calls us all in his own way. Its up to us to follow or not follow. If I am with my family & God says Jason, Come Here! I’m going to turn towards him & say, yes? If my family asks me what I’m doing or why am I straggling I will insist they either wait or follow, but I hafta do what I hafta do. That’s just the way it is.

 

[SC_Peach]

Glad you started this thread, OP. This has really been a ‘thorn’ of sorts in mine and my mother’s relationship. I am very close to my mother. I am a 37 (soon to be 38) yr. old grown woman, and get driven to the point of tears concerning my faith choice. My father really doesn’t care, he’s just glad I’m in church AT ALL lol. I would’ve thought that my mother would have not been as hard on me as my brother converted about 3-4yrs. ago. We just found out at my nephew’s b-day party a couple of weeks ago that my mom was actually DUCKING when the priest was sprinkling with holy water during the Easter Vigil when my brother got confirmed!!! My poor brother. He didn’t know it at the time, thank the Lord, but geeeeez. He already knew she was sitting there talking about how paganistic and cult-ish everything was. As if that wasn’t bad enough. She’s 3rd generation Church of God (the one originated out of Cleveland, TN) and currently doesn’t even go to church. She’s been out of church for almost 20 years now!! But she has fought me tooth and nail, quoting verse after verse, trying to disprove church teachings. Like I said, to the point I cry. We avoid the conversation of religion now. I am currently in RCIA (4th week on Sunday) and will be confirmed in November. I had originally invited my mom, BUT have since asked her that I prefer her not to come My husband doesn’t approve either, but he’s much more easy going than my mom. You’re definately not alone. Will keep you in my prayers.

God Bless!
Kathy