Need Advice Regarding Very Anti-Catholic Parents

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spero94 said:
Actually, being back in my parent’s church over the holidays is what is really worrying me. Last Sunday I sat through an hour long sermon about the evils of Catholicism, and listened to my dad rhythmically say 'amen" the whole time. Thankfully, my parents don’t celebrate Christmas so at least I don’t have to worry about attending their church for that. However, just having to be back in this environment is kinda discouraging.
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Meditate on the Lord throughout, focus on him and he will be with you. Ask his blessed mother also to be with you, and for her love so that you can radiate it back to them.
An hour long sermon about the evils of Catholicism?? Don’t they preach the love and mercy of God made manifest in our Lord? Are they Christians at all? Unbelievable.
 
=spero94;12571112]Hi guys,
I need some advice concerning my parents. I am currently in the process of converting to Catholicism; however, I have yet to tell my parents.
A little background: I was raised as an Independent Fundamental Baptist. I grew up listening to many, many, sermons about the evils of the Catholic church. As I grew older, I started to question baptist doctrine, and began my search for what I believed was true. That search led me led me to Catholicism.
The issue is that I don’t know how to tell my parents. They really believe with their whole hearts that a person who is catholic is going to hell. They also believe that the catholic church is influenced by demons. Their church once held a burning ceremony for a rosary that was blessed by Pope John Paul II, which was given to a member of the church who was dying of cancer by sweet little catholic lady. They did this because they believed that the rosary could be a “conductor of evil spirits”. I tell this story to explain just how anti-catholic my parents and the culture they live in is.
I’m planning to wait until I graduate college to tell them. That is only a few months away now, and I’m pretty scared at what their reaction will be. I’m pretty sure that neither my parents or my family will speak to me after I tell them; that is really tough because I love them very much.
Has anyone been in situation like this? If so, how did you prepare yourself? Was easier or harder than you thought it would be?
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Thanks so much!

P.S. Forgive me if I have posted this question in the wrong forum, as I am new here. If there is a more appropriate forum please let me know. 🙂
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Dear friend in Christ,

1st WELCOME TO CAF!🙂

Your’s is a very complex set of questions and as a FYI, space is wisely limited here on CAF.

All right understanding HAS TOO come from God;s Grace. Only He can accomplish this.

Having been a Catholic Catechist for many years now, I know what you face. Perhaps the best way; the prudent path is to first KNOW WELL the Catholic Faith.

The bible is a Catholic book, and it is Catholicism [the reformation was started by disgruntled Catholics, who thought they knew more; knew better than Christ, His Church and His Faith [all necessarily singular] .

There is after all just One God; who can and does have JUST One set of Faith beliefs, and desired and founded just I=one Church. Today’s Catholic Church which historically and biblically go back directly to the Apostles and Christ Himself.

Here is the Short list of biblical evidence as a FYI. But know it will not be accepted without God;s direct intervention.

Mt 10:1-8 God shares HIS Power and Authority wit the Apostles

Mt. 16:15 ALL singular tense {you “;my church”, Peter, gates of hell shall NEVER prevail]

John 17:11-26 Christ sends the Apostles with the same AUTHORITY that the Father sent Him, and then gives Himself as personal warranty of this truth

Mt. 28:16-20 Christ specifically sends ONLY the Apostles to TEACH what He had taught to THEM.& this created the absolute d need to for Succession.because in Mt. 10:8-9 Christ commands that the Apostles go ONLY to the Jews. Then in Mk 16:14-15 & Mt. 20:16-20 Christ CHANGES His Mandate [exclusively to] the Apostles and their Successors ALONE; to “the entire world” thus making succession essential in order to complete the mission.

BUT none of this will be rightly understood without God’s help.

So my suggestion is to:
1st learn well what we believe and why we do what we do

2nd. Practice your faith with out telling them [avoid a confrontation IF possible]

3td Then AFTER you are well grounded and able to explain what we believe and WHY we do believe it; then you can if directed by the Holy Spirit can enter into a meaningful dialog.

Right now just Learn Catholicism and avoid confrontations , and PRAY MUCH:thumbsup:

God Bless you and your family!

Patrick
 
I will say a prayer for you and wish you good luck.
My mother still tries to get a jab in every once in a while with a hate attack of the Catholic Church and she still tells people i am going through a “phase”. LOL - I told her at my age it would be a mid-life crisis and I’m gonna ride this Harley all the way to a Catholic Cemetery.

The point is, dont let them override what you feel Gods calling is for you.
 
spero94 said:
Actually, being back in my parent’s church over the holidays is what is really worrying me. Last Sunday I sat through an hour long sermon about the evils of Catholicism, and listened to my dad rhythmically say 'amen" the whole time. Thankfully, my parents don’t celebrate Christmas so at least I don’t have to worry about attending their church for that. However, just having to be back in this environment is kinda discouraging.
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I think JRKH’s advise is excellent. I would take notes when attending anti Catholic services with your parents so you will be able to point out the misconceptions to their pastor if you meet with him. In fact I would give the pastor, Karl Keating’s book, Catholicism and Fundamentalism. Or if you write to your parents you might want to point out those misconceptions also. You could post those misconceptions on CAF to get feed back on answering them.

Sometime it isn’t as bad as we expect. I thought I would have a hard time but was supprised. In RCIA this year we have a Church of Christ in Christian Union youth pastor and his wife and son coming into the Church. He was concerned about telling his parents. His dad is a pastor at another location. Of course they couldn’t understand and were troubled. His dad took it harder than his mother but they still get together. I will be praying for you and those in that situation.
 
I’m married to someone who grew up in a Fundamentalist Baptist church and school. She isn’t devout, but gives me an occasional hard time of some things - mostly deep misunderstandings - of the Catholic faith.

The funny thing is that our daughter was baptized in a Catholic church, so I knew she is and was open and reasonable. Some spouses and parents aren’t. For instance, my MIL flat out denies evolution, etc., and my sometimes my wife makes comments that reflect her fundamentalist education. But, I feel that they both feel that there are definitive holes poked into some of their beliefs. It all comes down to a mutual respect, and I will say it is VERY difficult for me sometimes.

Anyway, to help the OP, just be clear and concise when you defend and frame your argument, and no not waver. It is also a good idea not to put yourself in the position to be refuted by a pastor. I couldn’t imagine how I would react in a room full of anti-Catholics who’ve damned me to Hell. That’s about as unchristian and unbiblical as it gets.

Or…bargain with them (at the right time). If you are receiving tracts and advice on why Catholicism is “bad”, perhaps agree to read their tracts if they read Scott Hahn’s conversion story. Bottom line - the Catholic Church is founded by Christ Himself. The Reformation and fundamentalist movement of sola scriptura and sola fide holds little merit when the very same person who proclaims these beliefs are damning fellow Christians to Hell in the same breath.

Anyway, good luck, keep us updated, and realize that you’re not alone. 🙂
 
I think the apologist Patrick Madrid has some good books on the matter.

Their is a Presbyterian minister catholic bashed turned catholic priest who has a Audio CD about his conversion. His name is Scott Hahn.
 
BlueKnight said:
I think the apologist Patrick Madrid has some good books on the matter.

Their is a Presbyterian minister catholic bashed turned catholic priest who has a Audio CD about his conversion. His name is Scott Hahn.
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Scott Hahn is not a Catholic priest. He is a professor at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
 
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