BVMFatima, firstly I want to point out how impressed I am with you. For a 16 year-old, you are truly well-formed in your faith. You are far better informed and catechised than I ever was at your age, and I truly thank God for looking after you.
I recognise your concerns regarding the pressure on you to leave the faith. I’m afraid I have nothing new to add here. Like the others, I encourage you not to leave the Church or its sacraments, neither should you attend a non-Catholic church to make up for it. As an Asian, I recognise the important role of strong family ties, but we must remember that although we are called to honour thy father and mother, it does not mean that we must obey them in every single thing, especially when it calls us to sin (in this case, leaving the Church that Christ founded). Similarly, even as we remain faithful and loyal to the teachings of the Church, we mustn’t stop it from respecting our parents.
In this case, I feel that your mother may be being the exclusivist one here. Perhaps you could tell her that if it truly was about Jesus, then she should not be concerned about whether you attend the Catholic Church or not. You could also tell her that your faith in Christ our Lord has been deepened immensely in the Catholic Church, far more than any non-denominational congregation could ever do. Perhaps you could tell her that removing you from the Catholic Church would disrupt and interfere with the deep relationship you have with God right now, and the sense of community with 1.2 billion fellow Catholics around the world. Perhaps you could even use this as an opportunity to educate her about the original Catholic faith. Of course, we should avoid using strong words like ‘heresy’ which would get non-Catholics all huffy and emotionally charged about Catholic supremacy.
I also suggest that you should ask your priest for his assistance in this issue. A strong, orthodox priest would be able to give you advice and even mediate with your mother, to get her to soften her stance. Who knows, he might even be able to finally convince her that the Catholic Church is truly the Church. Also whatever happens, do not disrespect your parents. Despite all this tribulation, they are still your father and mother, who have born and raised you.
I again exhort you not to leave the Church and attend the Protestant church, despite your mother’s pressure. The Protestant church are our fellow Christians, but they are no substitute for the true faith which you have found. Many saints have undergone persecution because their society hated or misunderstood them for their fervour in the Catholic faith, and tried hard to convert them to their own way of thinking. Pray to them for their intercession in this time of need.
I will pray for you.
