Negativity toward converting

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allypaiget

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My husband and I have started our RCIA classes. We are at home in the Catholic Church. We come from Protestant family and mostly Protestant area. We are getting a lot of negativity about us converting…how are we suppose to deal with it? I try to ignore it but Its hard when even our family is judging us.
 
I’m sorry you are in this situation but if it is any consolation, most converts experience the same thing. Someone will always judge you for this move, you can’t make everybody happy. It is great that you as a couple are in this together. It will make you stronger in situation where people are being judgemental. Pray for courage and learn as much as you can about the Catholic faith in the following months. This will make it easier to have answers to their questions about your decision. Be patient with them. Offer your trials up. They will eventually get over it.
 
Ally,
Hello and welcome home.
My thoughts come from something St Francis of Assisi told his fellow friars.

Always preach a sermon, and when necessary , use words.

In other words, use words rarely. Just live a Christ centered life. Be a living witness and dont worry about the negativity being tossed your way. In time you will find the words to put forth explanations when necessary.

Sometimes we forget that Christ didn’t always answer His detractors. He knew that they weren’t being sincere, but rather just trying to trap Him.

He didn’t allow that. Neither should you.
Let your love, your joy and your peace in Christ be your witness, your answer, to their negativity.

God Bless and again, welcome home
 
allypaiget said:
My husband and I have started our RCIA classes. We are at home in the Catholic Church. We come from Protestant family and mostly Protestant area. We are getting a lot of negativity about us converting…how are we suppose to deal with it? I try to ignore it but Its hard when even our family is judging us.
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Hi, First of all congratulations on coming home.

Second, I would suggest talking about it with some members of your RCIA class. They might be going through the same thing and can offer a good deal of support.

Third, Continue to recognize that what your family is doing is because they care about you. They believe you are making a mistake and their judging is their way of trying to look out for you. Just thank them for their concern but tell them that when you are more ready to discuss it you will be happy to share with them the truths of Catholicism as you are still more fully learning about the faith. Be charitable and live your faith and they will come around to accepting you even if they do not agree with you. Obviously, this is easier said than done.

Fourth, It might be helpful to read other’s stories regarding their conversions as well and the difficulties they went through so you can see your are not alone in your situation.

I would recommend Born Fundamentalist Born again Catholic by David Currie, Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn or Suprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid. Most of these have very similar sounding stories to yours and also details how they handeled it and what they discovered about Catholicism to make them believe that it truly was the church Christ founded.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!
 
Marie5890 said:
Ally,
Hello and welcome home.
My thoughts come from something St Francis of Assisi told his fellow friars.

Always preach a sermon, and when necessary , use words.
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“Preach the gospel always, when necessary, use words”. ~ St. Thomas Aquinas

Regardless of who said it or how, it’s great advice!! :tiphat:
 
allypaiget said:
My husband and I have started our RCIA classes. We are at home in the Catholic Church. We come from Protestant family and mostly Protestant area. We are getting a lot of negativity about us converting…how are we suppose to deal with it? I try to ignore it but Its hard when even our family is judging us.
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We had that problem with my mother-in-law. My advice-learn your faith…and it will take time. Many Protestants have a big misunderstanding about Catholics…but you can be a witness just by knowing your faith and living it…and don’t give up! it was so beautiful to see my husband confirmed and have his first communion this year!
 
allypaiget said:
My husband and I have started our RCIA classes. We are at home in the Catholic Church. We come from Protestant family and mostly Protestant area. We are getting a lot of negativity about us converting…how are we suppose to deal with it? I try to ignore it but Its hard when even our family is judging us.
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I would just try to be patient and understanding, especially during the transition and beginning of your conversion. After all, they are only worried about your salvation and think you have gone astray. Think about what you would do if you thought your family member or friend has gone astray and went to a ‘false’ religion. Treat them as you would want to be treated. You will eventually have to set some limits depending on what kind of negativity you’re talking about. And you will probably most likely have to have an ‘agree to disagree’ arrangement. Remember what a lot of Catholics have forgotten: you will represent the Church, and so will your words and actions. So use it as a teaching opportunity and be a living example. But welcome 🙂
 
allypaiget said:
My husband and I have started our RCIA classes. We are at home in the Catholic Church. We come from Protestant family and mostly Protestant area. We are getting a lot of negativity about us converting…how are we suppose to deal with it? I try to ignore it but Its hard when even our family is judging us.
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Share your journey with them as far as it’s possible - for example, mention something interesting that happened in your RCIA class that they could maybe relate to, or when you were speaking with the priest, or at Mass. Share both the good things, and the struggles. Be honest with them about all these things, and let them be “in on the secret.” 😉

They probably won’t convert, but at least they will be able to understand it from your perspective.
 
allypaiget said:
My husband and I have started our RCIA classes. We are at home in the Catholic Church. We come from Protestant family and mostly Protestant area. We are getting a lot of negativity about us converting…how are we suppose to deal with it? I try to ignore it but Its hard when even our family is judging us.
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Also convert here, and welcome. My experience is: most people don’t know much about the Church, and have a LOT of misconceptions. I was once asked if we believe Jesus is the Son of God.

sigh

Try to be patient, positive and gentle with them.

Or, if that doesn’t work, move to Mozambique.
 
Personally, I would hand them a copy of Catholicism for Dummies and ask them to have a look. This is a book that should be in every Catholic home. And, in all RCIA programs. Sit down with them and watch ann episode of two of The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi on EWTN. Be prepared for some squirming in their seats, though. 😉
 
as a fairly recent convert myself :D(9/5/10) I have been exactly where you are…and sometimes still I find myself there all over again! It cant be disheartening and frustrating, but dont let it get you down. Best advice here is to pray pray pray…and know your faith so you are prepared to adequately and accurately explain your position ( and of course that of the Catholic church!) conversion does not stop once you are confirmed, or at least it hasnt for our family,it is an ongoing process. I know it can and will be awkward (we are the sole Catholics in a family saturated with baptists, methodist and a few who attend the assemblies of God) but this is where faith comes in, it can be so hard when you are bursting with excitement about your new faith but no one wants to let you share it:(…trust in God and He will make a way for you, pray for the softening of the hearts in your families and most importantly do NOT let this petty stuff turn you away from Christ and His one true church!
I will be saying many prayers for you and yours during this difficult time
 
I say this, no one has the right to Judge you, only Jesus, when you come to him at the end of you time. Don,t worry about people and what they say, it,s GOD you must fear,
but because we were born in the Eyes of God, Jesus came to save us, so we could return to his Fathers House. Keep your faith strong and pray to Jesus that he give you strenght agains those that waht too bring you down. May the HOLY SPIRIT and Jesus
watch over you.
 
Just thought of this… it was recently pointed out to me that regardless of who is converting to whatever denomination, the family of the convert is going to have concerns, reservations, questions, unhappiness, etc.

I know how I would feel if one of my Catholic family members decided to leave the Church for a protestant denomination.

So, try to understand that.

With that said, it’s how everyone handles the situation that is the key. Unfortunately, not everyone is concerned with “taking the high road”. :rolleyes: That’s what makes things hard on everyone.

Just my two cents.
 
It happened to me when I returned to the Church after 22 years of atheism. A friend and colleague (an ex-Catholic turned Baptist) and his Baptist wife were actively praying for my conversion, and were overtly also trying to convert me.

Well, they succeeded. Except that when I converted, it was back to my old faith, Catholicism. My conversion came after a summer in which I read the entire New Testament. What I read simply didn’t jive with what they were telling me. Only Catholicism seemed to tie together nicely what I had read.

I got a lot of nonsense about the errors of the Church, etc., after that.

But then one day at coffee break, sitting alone in the company cafeteria reflecting on yet another attempt by my “friend” to help me see the error of my ways, I had a deeply spiritual experience. I’ve only experienced it twice in my life. That was the first, and the second was in front of the Tabernacle in a Benedictine abbey. To me it was God encouraging me to stick to the path and choice I had made.

Interestingly, in the years following both his marriage and mine went on the rocks.

Mine recovered. His failed. I credit the recovery of mine to my recognition of its sacramental nature, which forced me to persevere in my commitment in the face of adversity, and to the sacrament of reconciliation. There were times when I just wanted to RUN away as fast as I could. But all I did was sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament saying “Lord, I can’t deal with this issue, I am at my wits’ end, so here, I am placing it in front of you for you to fix”. He fixed it, he made us both realize that “it’s not all about me”, and that broke down the wall of stubbornness between us, and since then my wife and I are like two teenagers in love, at age 53, and it is the most wonderful feeling in the world!

All I can do for the OP though is encourage her and her husband by praying for them. And the only good advice I can give them is to pray… together… and every day. Surrender to God. The rest will fall in place in good time. God’s time.
 
OraLabora said:
It happened to me when I returned to the Church after 22 years of atheism. A friend and colleague (an ex-Catholic turned Baptist) and his Baptist wife were actively praying for my conversion, and were overtly also trying to convert me.

Well, they succeeded. Except that when I converted, it was back to my old faith, Catholicism. My conversion came after a summer in which I read the entire New Testament. What I read simply didn’t jive with what they were telling me. Only Catholicism seemed to tie together nicely what I had read.

I got a lot of nonsense about the errors of the Church, etc., after that.

But then one day at coffee break, sitting alone in the company cafeteria reflecting on yet another attempt by my “friend” to help me see the error of my ways, I had a deeply spiritual experience. I’ve only experienced it twice in my life. That was the first, and the second was in front of the Tabernacle in a Benedictine abbey. To me it was God encouraging me to stick to the path and choice I had made.

Interestingly, in the years following both his marriage and mine went on the rocks.

Mine recovered. His failed. I credit the recovery of mine to my recognition of its sacramental nature, which forced me to persevere in my commitment in the face of adversity, and to the sacrament of reconciliation. There were times when I just wanted to RUN away as fast as I could. But all I did was sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament saying “Lord, I can’t deal with this issue, I am at my wits’ end, so here, I am placing it in front of you for you to fix”. He fixed it, he made us both realize that “it’s not all about me”, and that broke down the wall of stubbornness between us, and since then my wife and I are like two teenagers in love, at age 53, and it is the most wonderful feeling in the world!

All I can do for the OP though is encourage her and her husband by praying for them. And the only good advice I can give them is to pray… together… and every day. Surrender to God. The rest will fall in place in good time. God’s time.
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Amen! 👍
 
allypaiget said:
My husband and I have started our RCIA classes. We are at home in the Catholic Church. We come from Protestant family and mostly Protestant area. We are getting a lot of negativity about us converting…how are we suppose to deal with it? I try to ignore it but Its hard when even our family is judging us.
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Ask them what their problem is and explain yourself. 🙂
 
=allypaiget;8534413]My husband and I have started our RCIA classes. We are at home in the Catholic Church. We come from Protestant family and mostly Protestant area. We are getting a lot of negativity about us converting…how are we suppose to deal with it? I try to ignore it but Its hard when even our family is judging us.
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Not an easy thing to endure but:

***Matt.5 Verses 11 to 15 ***"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house”

This is a typical responce from those who don’t actually know what we DO belief and practice. Catholics have always been the BULLSEYE on the target from the Thousands of competiting faiths. They only know what they have been taught or think they know.

But my friends, know this:

In the entire bible first to last page God: Both Yahweh and Christ always with no exceptions taught. Beleve in Only One God, and only One set of faith beliefs [that I gave you], and Only one faith-organization; Church.

Jesus gave the Keys to the kingdom of heaven to Only Peter and the CC;)

Today’s CC is the only regigion in the WORLD to have been actually by God Himself:D

The Bible is a Catholic Book. It is the CC that gave the world the bible and the entire New Testament is written in total by men known to be Catholics:thumbsup:

The CC alone hasJesus Himself in the Most Holy Eucharist AND the only faith that has KNOWN forgiveness of sins. [1st. John 1:8-10; 1st. John 5: 16-17 and John 20:19-23.]🙂

Only the CC allows us to control the flow of sacramental grace.

Eph.3: 9 to 12 “And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church [SINGULAR: meaning THE CATHOLIC Church] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him

2nd. Peter 1: 16-21 “ for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

**Matt.13:9-12 **“He who has ears, let him hear." Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. “

** 2nd. Tim. 3:16-17 **All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work"

And dear friends KNOW THIS:

Take Up your Cross and Follow Me
Phil.2: 8 “And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross Luke.9 :23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Mark.8: 34 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Luke.9: 23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke.14: 7 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

It’s not easy BECAUSE iot’s not supposed to be easy:)

You have made the right decision; stick with it! If you need further information on anything your learning send me a PM message and I’ll help you out.

God Bless you both!
Love and prayers,
Pat
 
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