I Need Some Advice.......

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Antonius_Lupus

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Dear brothers and sisters,

I am in the process of reverting to the Catholic Church. I was raised a devout Evangelical Baptist, but by through research I have come to see that the Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ. Karl featured me on one of his e-letters:

*WINNER

We received this e-mail message from Anthony Mathison of Aiken, South Carolina:

“I am a seventeen-year-old guy, and I just want to thank you all at Catholic Answers. I used to be a staunch Evangelical Baptist, but after years of studying the Scriptures and listening to the scholarly arguments of Catholic Answers apologists, I decided to convert to Catholicism in July of 2006. Currently I am in RCIA classes. I was originally baptized a Catholic as an infant, but I never received my confirmation or my first Eucharist. I am so very excited to be coming into the True Church!”

Thanks for the good news, Anthony. You may never sport as many goofy-looking sunglasses as does Elton John, but you have discovered something he still has no inkling of: It is only in the Catholic faith that one will discover what it is that fulfills “the deepest longings of the human heart.”*
catholic.com/newsletters/kke_061114.asp

I was honored, but anyway,

The problem is that I am only 18 years old and I still live with my devoutly Evangelical parents.

How do I talk to them about my desire to become Catholic? They already know that I want to become Catholic, but it is a very touchy subject.

I really need some advice on this. Thanks in advance.
 
Hopefully they will honor your desire to follow Christ wherever He leads you, and to live according to your conscience.

You don’t necessarily need to justify yourself or persuade them. They may not ever like it, but they love you no matter what (I hope).

I wouldn’t necessarily have a lot of conversations or arguments with them about things, just let them know you’re happy to answer any questions they have. If any discussion gets heated, before anyone says anything they’ll later regret, stop the conversation and say we should cool off and talk about this later when everyone’s calm again.

Do you have specific worries or concerns?
 
kentuckyliz said:
Do you have specific worries or concerns?
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I am not particularly worried about them not loving me anymore. It’s just that when I was an Evangelical, I was very anti-Catholic and I think that strain of thought runs in my family.

I am also not worried about being able to defend the Faith either. Not to sound arrogant, but through the Grace of God I was able to win a debate against Diane Slick (the vice-president of CARM). I have also posted over one-thousand apologiae for the Catholic Faith on the CARM boards.

Anyway, I suppose I am really worried about how this will effect our relationship as a family. I know my parents will always love and care for me unconditionally, but I guess I am afraid that our relationship will suffer.

Hard stuff…
 
I don’t think I have anything to say that you probably do not already know, but I will say it nonetheless. When Jesus calls, don’t be afraid to follow. You have Him, and you are trying to follow Him. Everything else is behind that. Be comforted by the fact that many of us here at CAF will be praying for you and your family. Peace and God bless.
 
Kevin42 said:
I don’t think I have anything to say that you probably do not already know, but I will say it nonetheless. When Jesus calls, don’t be afraid to follow. You have Him, and you are trying to follow Him. Everything else is behind that. Be comforted by the fact that many of us here at CAF will be praying for you and your family. Peace and God bless.
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You don’t realize what thay means to me my brother. Thanks!
 
My family is Pentecostal, if not Holiness, and those that are sinners are still based solely on our family tradition of being Holiness… so I can understand.

For almost two years now I have been studying and studying… So I’m just using this as an opportunity to grow in my love for our Blessed Mother and our Lord Jesus, and familiarizing myself with the Church… and attending whenever I get the chance, which hasn’t been for a while.

One of the things I’ve learned is… embrace your Catholic Faith, and take advantage of it to the point where you can study and grow, and don’t be afraid to pray the rosary either.

Let their conversion come as the Graces of Mary allow, because Her Immaculate Heart will win those to the Faith in the end… and those that reject it, well, they are left to their own defense. All I can say, is that I hope we will one day reach the point of unity in our Ecclesiastical “Sphere” and allow the Sacred Heart of Christ to unite His Bride once and for all.

But pray and perservere…
  • JudeAnthony
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
Dear brothers and sisters,

I am in the process of reverting to the Catholic Church. I was raised a devout Evangelical Baptist, but by through research I have come to see that the Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ. Karl featured me on one of his e-letters:

*WINNER

We received this e-mail message from Anthony Mathison of Aiken, South Carolina:

“I am a seventeen-year-old guy, and I just want to thank you all at Catholic Answers. I used to be a staunch Evangelical Baptist, but after years of studying the Scriptures and listening to the scholarly arguments of Catholic Answers apologists, I decided to convert to Catholicism in July of 2006. Currently I am in RCIA classes. I was originally baptized a Catholic as an infant, but I never received my confirmation or my first Eucharist. I am so very excited to be coming into the True Church!”

Thanks for the good news, Anthony. You may never sport as many goofy-looking sunglasses as does Elton John, but you have discovered something he still has no inkling of: It is only in the Catholic faith that one will discover what it is that fulfills “the deepest longings of the human heart.”*
catholic.com/newsletters/kke_061114.asp

I was honored, but anyway,

The problem is that I am only 18 years old and I still live with my devoutly Evangelical parents.

How do I talk to them about my desire to become Catholic? They already know that I want to become Catholic, but it is a very touchy subject.

I really need some advice on this. Thanks in advance.
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First of All… Welcome to the family. The Angels rejoice with us.

Now as to your earthly family.
What has there reaction been? Openly hostile? Disappointed?
Passive agressive?
Overall I would suggest that you adopt a fairly low profile.
Demonstrate your faith in Love and compassion.
When discussions come up speak calmly, clearly and with Love.

I would also suggest easing them into the ways of catholicism. For instance I would lean more toward devotions to Jesus rather than Mary early on. This will reduce the protestant auto-response of “Idol worship” etc. Once they become more at ease with your conversion, you will be able to add to their understanding.

The really great thing about your situation is that by showing your conversion through Love, Compassion and example you will help undermine anti-catholcism in another corner. Your parents will understand, and through them others. They may not convert but their hearts will soften.

Joy to you on you Journey

James
 
I think you will not know peace in your spiritual life until you follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, you are an adult and therefore capable of making an adult decision, and you are intellegent, it may cause a strain with your relationship with your parents, but did not the Bible say that indeed that may be the case sometimes? I will be praying for you and your parents and Welcome Home.
 
I’m sure it’s important to your parents that one be obedient to God. Maybe you can approach it that way; that you believe that God is calling you into the Catholic Church and to not follow the calling would be being disobedient to God. That was how Scott Hahn brought it to his wife, that if he delayed entry into the Church, he would be disobedient to God.
Prayers for you and your family.

Peace,
Linda
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
I am not particularly worried about them not loving me anymore. It’s just that when I was an Evangelical, I was very anti-Catholic and I think that strain of thought runs in my family.

I am also not worried about being able to defend the Faith either. Not to sound arrogant, but through the Grace of God I was able to win a debate against Diane Slick (the vice-president of CARM). I have also posted over one-thousand apologiae for the Catholic Faith on the CARM boards.

Anyway, I suppose I am really worried about how this will effect our relationship as a family. I know my parents will always love and care for me unconditionally, but I guess I am afraid that our relationship will suffer.

Hard stuff…
Click to expand...
I think the best thing you can do is to avoid any kind of debate with your family. I’m sure it will be hard since your so good at it, but it won’t score any points with your family. Lead by quiet, reverent example. Hopefully, as time goes on and they see the changes in you, they will accept things and maybe even follow you.

Good luck and welcome home!
 
Thank you all for the sound advice my brothers and sisters!

Pray for me.

The Kiss of Peace to all my bretheren in Christ! Peace be with you!!!
 
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