How to use this situation to witness?

[jerome_ky]

Hopefully this is the correct place to post this. First, I am referencing this answer from an Apologist:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=138758

My wife’s sister, who is not Catholic, recently “married” her lesbian partner, and her partner has become pregnant through IVF or some other artificial means. My wife has been invited to the baby shower by her sister-in-law who is throwing it. She and I talked about it, and we referenced the above thread, and we realize that her going to the baby shower is out of the question. As recommended, she plans to send a gift that is specifically for the baby.

This is her sister, not just some colleague at work, and my wife (a recent convert, like me) is going to be the only female family member not attending, and that really disappoints her. Her sister-in-law who is throwing this is Catholic herself, and she may say, “Oh, come on, don’t be like that, this is family” or whatever Catholics say when they encourage each other to not follow Church teaching.

So, my wife will be able to maintain a clear conscience, but how should she answer the inevitable critical questions that will follow her not attending, in such a way as to be a loving witness?

 

[CaitlinSiobhan]

That’s hard.

I would probably say something like “I love (Sister), but I simply don’t feel like I can support certain life choices in that manner. I am, naturally, hoping all goes well for her.”

Any further questions about the “life choices” comment could be met with an explanation of church teaching on homosexuality or IVF. But I don’t think those are things that absolutely have to be brought up in such a scenario.

I have a cousin in a SS relationship. I don’t refer to it as a marriage or to her partner as her wife, but I’m always respectful of them.

I don’t think anyone in my family has a negative reaction towards me because of it. Every family is different though, so I’d advise you both to pray for any eventual fallout.

 

[PietroPaolo]

Hopefully this is the correct place to post this. First, I am referencing this answer from an Apologist:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=138758

My wife’s sister, who is not Catholic, recently “married” her lesbian partner, and her partner has become pregnant through IVF or some other artificial means. My wife has been invited to the baby shower by her sister-in-law who is throwing it. She and I talked about it, and we referenced the above thread, and we realize that her going to the baby shower is out of the question. As recommended, she plans to send a gift that is specifically for the baby.

This is her sister, not just some colleague at work, and my wife (a recent convert, like me) is going to be the only female family member not attending, and that really disappoints her. Her sister-in-law who is throwing this is Catholic herself, and she may say, “Oh, come on, don’t be like that, this is family” or whatever Catholics say when they encourage each other to not follow Church teaching.

So, my wife will be able to maintain a clear conscience, but how should she answer the inevitable critical questions that will follow her not attending, in such a way as to be a loving witness?

You could point out the hypocrisy of the family supporting your wife’s sisters homosexual lifestyle while being critical of your wife’s Catholic lifestyle. If the family is to support the one sister’s lifestyle, why shouldn’t it also support the other sister in trying to live a life faithful to the teaching of the Catholic Church?