My mom won't accept me as Catholic, what should I do?

[jacobthompson16]

I am 16 and really want more than anything to convert to Catholicism when I graduate (i’m a jr). I was raised Baptist and always was able to understand the bible very easily and I love studying it. But my parents are somewhat anti-catholic. They think its wrong so I asked my mom “If I convert will you come to my baptism?” she said “I guess… maybe. I don’t agree with them and there wrong about a lot…” I will never be able to convert her but she also said she’s not sure if i’ll go to heaven anymore or if I am still even a christian. This had me on the verge of tears and now I have no idea what to do… I want to be catholic but still want the acceptance of my mother. What do I do?

 

[farawayaria]

God is holding you in His hands and He will never let you go.

you are not alone! many of the saints struggled with the acceptance of their family members. i believe that some good will come from this. i know it feels like the hardest thing in the world, feeling apart and torn from your own parents because you have been shown the path of the One True Faith. but everything will work out fine.

what is it that your mother has against the Catholic Church? does she not know that the Church was founded on Christ Himself? It wasnt until centuries later that Martin Luther thought differently.
if you can unpick your mother’s arguments against the Church, you might help her see clearer.

it’s great that you know and study God’s Word. it’ll help defend the Faith on the battlefield.

God bless you

 

[SecretGarden]

I would pray for her and I would try to get connected with a local Catholic youth group in your area and attend that regularly. As she sees that you are happy, eventually she might come around. It might take a few years so you will have to be patient. Furthermore, Baptists by the way they were brought up, haven’t been taught that Catholics are Christians, that they share the same beliefs as other christians etc. I suggest that you start reading some of these beginner books on Catholicism which explain the faith really easily. One of my favorites is “Why do Catholics genuflect” by Al Kresta. If you message me, I can give you a few titles to check out.

If you have questions, message me, I am here.

 

[theoda]

I am 16 and really want more than anything to convert to Catholicism when I graduate (i’m a jr). I was raised Baptist and always was able to understand the bible very easily and I love studying it. But my parents are somewhat anti-catholic. They think its wrong so I asked my mom “If I convert will you come to my baptism?” she said “I guess… maybe. I don’t agree with them and there wrong about a lot…” I will never be able to convert her but she also said she’s not sure if i’ll go to heaven anymore or if I am still even a christian. This had me on the verge of tears and now I have no idea what to do… I want to be catholic but still want the acceptance of my mother. What do I do?

Try printing out arguments for Catholicism and leaving them around your house so they can read them. Learn more about Catholicism by using this site. Try explaining to her that the Catholic Church has been around for 2,000 years and the Protestant only 500. Ask her about miracles like the Miracle of the Sun.

Most importantly, pray and be patient. I suggest praying the rosary for the conversion of your parents. It is a very powerful prayer.

I hope this helps and I will pray for you.

 

[bisco]

check out ‘why be catholic’ here on ca. or ‘the protestant dilemma’. most (many?) protestants have been taught lies about the catholic church, and have no knowledge of the history or teaching of the fathers of the church. the animosity has been around since the schism, and cuts both ways. it is both religious, and political. but we have the catechism, something protestants don’t have. you may want to ask them to read it, or an abridged version. never doubt the power of the Holy Spirit! God bless.

 

[Dorothy]

I am 16 and really want more than anything to convert to Catholicism when I graduate (i’m a jr). I was raised Baptist and always was able to understand the bible very easily and I love studying it. But my parents are somewhat anti-catholic. They think its wrong so I asked my mom “If I convert will you come to my baptism?” she said “I guess… maybe. I don’t agree with them and there wrong about a lot…” I will never be able to convert her but she also said she’s not sure if i’ll go to heaven anymore or if I am still even a christian. This had me on the verge of tears and now I have no idea what to do… I want to be catholic but still want the acceptance of my mother. What do I do?

Pray to our Lord Jesus Christ and ask for His strength! Also, ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for you.
Patience and prayer will get you through this.

God bless you on your spiritual journey!

 

[DarkLight]

As a former baptist…

Reassure her that for all she’s probably heard, Catholics still believe in salvation by grace through faith. You still believe that you’re saved by Christ’s death on the cross. Tell her that despite what she’s probably been told, Catholics don’t believe that they can “earn” their way into heaven - we just believe that an integral part of living in the grace of God is how we live out our faith, and that it doesn’t mean anything if we say we are Christians but don’t act like we care about following God.

 

[YADA]

You have received good advice. You might get some books like Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn and Confessions of a Mega Church Pastor by Alan Hunt …written by Protestant pastors who became Catholic at great cost to their careers ( hard to be a Catholic and continue a vocation as a minister to a non catholic community)…

Perhaps your parents would read them …

And if you were baptized in your Baptist Church you would not be baptized a second time …you would receive Confirmation and Holy Communion (First Eucharist)

Catholics profess one baptism …and Baptists baptize with water and with theTrinitarian formula thus its a valid Christian baptism … My family on my mother’s side is Baptist so I attended many Baptist churches as a child…though my step dad was Church of Christ (where I was baptized)…both denominations have anti catholic leanings but a full of wonderful Christians who love Jesus. I pray for them …and wish for them to experience the fullness of faith someday and come to the Eucharist …follow where God leads …I think I delayed far to long and only wish I made my profession of faith sooner.

Blessings

 

[bisco]

and don’t forget love! whatever you do, win them over in your new found faith through the transformation of your spirit. when they see how wonderful it is to have a Catholic child, they will hopefully be won over.

 

[TK421]

Oddly, the fact that your mother is against you being Catholic is what might mean - more than anything - that she cares deeply about morality. It’s the people that don’t seem to care what you believe in that are worth the greater concern.

There are a lot of things about Catholicism that would be deeply troubling for a person of Baptist convictions. She’s behaving the way a faithful Baptist ought to behave, even if she is wrong. You can sit down and explain to her why you believe what you believe, but more than likely it won’t be enough. You have to suffer, and that means doing what your earthly mother doesn’t approve, while being a loving son the entire time that you do it. You have to show her how much your faith means to you, and whatever suffering and sadness you face from doing this, God promises that it will follow with far more joy and peace. Entering the Communion of Saints is the best thing that could ever happen to you. Every child has the fantasy of being a prince or princess, and when you become Catholic, you find out that those childhood fantasies weren’t fantasies at all. God bless.

 

[MSSheBear]

My advice is to spend the next couple of years studying Church doctrine and history and be prepared to respond to anti-Catholic comments. Your mother may yet come around. Once you turn 18 you are free to convert.