Pro-choice friends

[marypar]

Just found out my two long time friends are pro-choice. We never discussed politics or religion until recently so I wasn’t totally sure.

One is a non-practicing Jew who said she wouldn’t see a Clint Eastwood movie because of his stint at the Convention and she is pro-choice believing in abortion up to three months and she is pro-gay. She knows I am a Republican and says we shouldn’t discuss politics or religion but the Clint comment upset me. My insides went haywire but we hung up friends.

Other friend I thought was a devout Baptist but just told me this week she was thinking about pro-choice and gays and now is for both as she said she is more tolerant. my response was just that Roe vs. Wade should be reversed and I have no problem with gays but they should be celibate.

We changed the conversations and had no hard feelings when we hung up.

How do you handle these situations? I get all riled up when I hang up and my thoughts turn to mentally arguing pro-life with them and it can become obsessive. My confessor didn’t make a big deal when i told him my thoughts about arguing in my mind.

I don’t like to have these thoughts going through my head but I do get riled up inside.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Victor2211]

Wow! I honestly have the same feelings going on inside my head; however, I have never been able to articulate it as well as you did. My three best friends (26+ years and counting) are liberal on social issues and tend to be “cafeteria Catholics” whereas I am so much more conservative. We have come to an agreement over the years to not discuss politics because (although we never fight about it) we can never agree on it. When we did discuss politics, I would always spend the next week or so having the same imaginary debates in my mind that you mentioned and I would tend to get quite angry. I would also get angry at myself several days after our discussion because I would think of a better way of articulating a particular issue that I wish I had exressed better at the time of our discussion. I have also thought long and hard about buying my friends CD’s from Catholic Answers (such as “Goodbye Religious Liberty”), but I know they would just smile and laugh at me if I gave them those CD’s. I’m actually starting to get angry right now as I type this!

 

[Marocchino]

In my opinion, your feelings are an expression of righteous idignation at the fact that anyone can support such an evil. Just remember that our intellects are darkened by original sin, and this is especially pronounced in people who do not receive the grace-giving sacraments of the Catholic Church. If you want to enter a debate, perhaps giving them a Catholic pro-life booklet with photos would be a springboard. Pray much before bringing this up with them so that you are prepared for any reaction they may have.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

Information here and here.

Most likely though, you will agree to disagree or this new information will disolve the friendship.

 

[LoyalViews]

I have a few pro-choice friends. I don’t know if the way I handle it is right, but say one of my friends says “there’s nothing wrong with gay marriage”. I’d say something like “but that’s merely your opinion, and a new opinion at that. Only until recently was this an issue, and why is it all of a sudden right that men should marry men? I know the truth, and that marriage is only between one man and one woman. There is only one truth. Do you want to hear about it?”

How’s that?

 

[johnnyjones]

I know it can be hard but you just have to stand out and be different. Start embracing that you are pro life person (you may have already) and make it something that defines you. I like not falling in with the hip or popular belief system and I think you do too.

Whenever the opportunity arises be prepared with pro life answers. It’s awesome to challenge the minds of those who have been confused by societies propaganda and even better when you get them to see the truth. Stay strong. No friend is worth compromising your belief. If you stay friendly and civil during these conversations you will be advancing the pro life cause . Unfortunately many have gone before us who did not handle things correctly.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Just found out my two long time friends are pro-choice. We never discussed politics or religion until recently so I wasn’t totally sure.

One is a non-practicing Jew who said she wouldn’t see a Clint Eastwood movie because of his stint at the Convention and she is pro-choice believing in abortion up to three months and she is pro-gay. She knows I am a Republican and says we shouldn’t discuss politics or religion but the Clint comment upset me. My insides went haywire but we hung up friends.

Other friend I thought was a devout Baptist but just told me this week she was thinking about pro-choice and gays and now is for both as she said she is more tolerant. my response was just that Roe vs. Wade should be reversed and I have no problem with gays but they should be celibate.

We changed the conversations and had no hard feelings when we hung up.

How do you handle these situations? I get all riled up when I hang up and my thoughts turn to mentally arguing pro-life with them and it can become obsessive. My confessor didn’t make a big deal when i told him my thoughts about arguing in my mind.

I don’t like to have these thoughts going through my head but I do get riled up inside.

Thanks everyone.

Don’t argue with your friends. Just find a 40 Days for Life location near you, and go and pray for an end to abortion! It’s a lot more relevant than having an argument with your friends. Of course you can always invite them along too…



40 Days for Life

 

[aicirt]

A friend supported gays and supposedly thought nothing of it until her granddaughter announced she was gay and went off to live with her partner. This sent the whole family into a depression and to therapy. Since then the girl has come back to being hetrosexual, met a guy, and married him.

Now the same grandmother is talking up the wisdom of euthanasia.

 

[Julia_Mae]

I don’t like to have these thoughts going through my head but I do get riled up inside.

Thanks everyone.

Pray for them. Daily if necessary. Pray an Our Father or some prayer you choose every time it comes into your mind.

 

[CMatt25]

Just found out my two long time friends are pro-choice. We never discussed politics or religion until recently so I wasn’t totally sure.

One is a non-practicing Jew who said she wouldn’t see a Clint Eastwood movie because of his stint at the Convention and she is pro-choice believing in abortion up to three months and she is pro-gay. She knows I am a Republican and says we shouldn’t discuss politics or religion but the Clint comment upset me. My insides went haywire but we hung up friends.

Other friend I thought was a devout Baptist but just told me this week she was thinking about pro-choice and gays and now is for both as she said she is more tolerant. my response was just that Roe vs. Wade should be reversed and I have no problem with gays but they should be celibate.

We changed the conversations and had no hard feelings when we hung up.

How do you handle these situations? I get all riled up when I hang up and my thoughts turn to mentally arguing pro-life with them and it can become obsessive. My confessor didn’t make a big deal when i told him my thoughts about arguing in my mind.

I don’t like to have these thoughts going through my head but I do get riled up inside.

Thanks everyone.

I of course can’t do it especially on a Catholic Apologetics forum or subforum because I would be accused of trying to sway you from your faith and from the Magisterium. But while you don’t have to agree with them or they with you, I’m just curious if they’ve ever explained to you the how’s and why’s they are pro choice/gay marriage? There even are non Catholics but still Christians of deep faith who are pro choice and pro gay marriage.

But anyway trust me people on the other side of choice and SS marriage than you are, I’m imagining can sometimes get riled up too on the insides. I think I’d just offer it up to God and I truly wish you His blessings in your faith walk and peace be with you and your friends.

 

[marypar]

Wow! I honestly have the same feelings going on inside my head; however, I have never been able to articulate it as well as you did. My three best friends (26+ years and counting) are liberal on social issues and tend to be “cafeteria Catholics” whereas I am so much more conservative. We have come to an agreement over the years to not discuss politics because (although we never fight about it) we can never agree on it. When we did discuss politics, I would always spend the next week or so having the same imaginary debates in my mind that you mentioned and I would tend to get quite angry. I would also get angry at myself several days after our discussion because I would think of a better way of articulating a particular issue that I wish I had exressed better at the time of our discussion. I have also thought long and hard about buying my friends CD’s from Catholic Answers (such as “Goodbye Religious Liberty”), but I know they would just smile and laugh at me if I gave them those CD’s. I’m actually starting to get angry right now as I type this!

Thank you Victor, we seem to think alike. I know I am not alone. My friends are adamant and I wouldn’t even dare bring up the subject or offer them material - I want them never to bring the subjects up and hopefully I can just move on and talk about other things with them like we always did.
Thank you again for answering.

 

[marypar]

I of course can’t do it especially on a Catholic Apologetics forum or subforum because I would be accused of trying to sway you from your faith and from the Magisterium. But while you don’t have to agree with them or they with you, I’m just curious if they’ve ever explained to you the how’s and why’s they are pro choice/gay marriage? There even are non Catholics but still Christians of deep faith who are pro choice and pro gay marriage.

But I’m not sure why you are so troubled about the Clint appearance at the RNC keeping your friend from seeing a movie. I myself wanted to see his recent baseball movie. I’ve considered going but might have had to let out a little boo when he would have first appeared on the screen. But instead thus far at least I have just boycotted going. There were 2 things in Clint’s appearance at the RNC I found disgusting and disgraceful to the Office of the President of the United States. I found his suggestion that the President of the United States of America was sitting there telling Clint to shut up and telling Romney to do something so bad to himself that Clint would have been unable to repeat it, disgraceful to the Office. Because according to Clint, the POTUS must have been invisibly sitting in that chair telling Romney to do something to himself that was so disgusting since Clint would have been unable to repeat it to Romney. Maybe your friend feels the same way. I don’t know.

But anyway trust me people on the other side of choice and SS marriage than you are, I’m imagining can sometimes get riled up too on the insides. I think I’d just offer it up to God and I truly wish you His blessings in your faith walk and peace be with you and your friends.

Hi, thank you for replying to me.
The Clint thing bothered me because it should not have been brought up just because I said my husband was seeing the movie - I didn’t expect her reaction. And if she doesn’t like Clint who is a Republican, I should have given her a list of all the celebrities that she likes that are Republican and she doesn’t even know it - and ask her if she will be boycotting their films too. See the mind keeps going…

 

[edwest2]

Ask your friends politely, why they are pro-choice or pro-gay marriage. Try to understand them without judgement. If their thinking is based on not knowing the facts or based on what they heard from somebody or read it somewhere, then you may have an opening to explain how abortion came to be in this country.

catholicnewsagency.com/resources/abortion/articles-and-addresses/an-ex-abortionist-speaks/

And provide a few examples from Church teaching about gay marriage.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html

Peace,
Ed

 

[marypar]

Don’t argue with your friends. Just find a 40 Days for Life location near you, and go and pray for an end to abortion! It’s a lot more relevant than having an argument with your friends. Of course you can always invite them along too…



40 Days for Life

Thank you Julianne
I looked at the website - I live in New York City and didn’t know it’s the highest abortions. No wonder I am outnumbered.
I am interested in the daily prayers listed and will try and participate at home by reading the daily prayers. Thank you so much.

 

[marypar]

Ask your friends politely, why they are pro-choice or pro-gay marriage. Try to understand them without judgement. If their thinking is based on not knowing the facts or based on what they heard from somebody or read it somewhere, then you may have an opening to explain how abortion came to be in this country.

catholicnewsagency.com/resources/abortion/articles-and-addresses/an-ex-abortionist-speaks/

And provide a few examples from Church teaching about gay marriage.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html

Peace,
Ed

Thank you Ed for taking the time add those links.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Thank you Julianne
I looked at the website - I live in New York City and didn’t know it’s the highest abortions. No wonder I am outnumbered.
I am interested in the daily prayers listed and will try and participate at home by reading the daily prayers. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Praying and doing sidewalk counseling outside of an abortion center is not easy, I will admit. But I could no longer sit in the pews and tell myself, “It’s someone else’s mission, not mine.” If we want this to end, WE have to make it end. Prayer by prayer, abortion clinics are closing. I think the count is over 40 so far, in 5 years. And right after this fall’s campaign began, an abortion DOCTOR contacted Abby Johnson for help in getting out of the industry. Abby is a former Planned Parenthood director who finally left after assisting in an abortion, and she has started a ministry for abortion workers called, “And Then There Were None.” She helps abortion workers get out and get new employment, and she funds them in the meantime. God bless her!

Thanks for your prayers for unborn babies, mothers and fathers, and abortion workers!

 

[CMatt25]

Hi, thank you for replying to me.
The Clint thing bothered me because it should not have been brought up just because I said my husband was seeing the movie - I didn’t expect her reaction. And if she doesn’t like Clint who is a Republican, I should have given her a list of all the celebrities that she likes that are Republican and she doesn’t even know it - and ask her if she will be boycotting their films too. See the mind keeps going…

Hi, you’re welcome. Did your husband like the movie? I’ve heard it is very good. I know. I was surprised when I watched the Emmys and the host asked if anyone was supporting the candidate Clint is, there were some boos but mixed with more applause than I expected. This surprised me because of the reputation Hollywood has. I don’t know if the other celebrities have ever presented the POTUS though in the light Clint did. If he had just not done those 2 things I found in very poor taste, I would have had no problem with him being a Republican. And like your husband I would have already seen the movie. But if all your friend did was voice her personal opinion in that she would not see the movie because of what Clint did, I think it’s great you just changed the subject and the 3 of you remain friends. Peace be with each of you.

 

[marypar]

Hi, you’re welcome. Did your husband like the movie? I’ve heard it is very good. I know. I was surprised when I watched the Emmys and the host asked if anyone was supporting the candidate Clint is, there were some boos but mixed with more applause than I expected. This surprised me because of the reputation Hollywood has. I don’t know if the other celebrities have ever presented the POTUS though in the light Clint did. If he had just not done those 2 things I found in very poor taste, I would have had no problem with him being a Republican. And like your husband I would have already seen the movie. But if all your friend did was voice her personal opinion in that she would not see the movie because of what Clint did, I think it’s great you just changed the subject and the 3 of you remain friends. Peace be with each of you.

Hi
My husband thought the movie was very slow and didn’t care for it - he preferred Gran Torino. Funny, I watched Clint and didn’t catch the two things mentioned.

 

[ringil]

Hi, thank you for replying to me.
The Clint thing bothered me because it should not have been brought up just because I said my husband was seeing the movie - I didn’t expect her reaction. And if she doesn’t like Clint who is a Republican, I should have given her a list of all the celebrities that she likes that are Republican and she doesn’t even know it - and ask her if she will be boycotting their films too. See the mind keeps going…

I’ve never really cared about actor’s politics. I just watch a movie if I believe it will be a good one.

I guess Walmart is the only thing I really boycott. Doesn’t hurt them but makes me feel better.

 

[vera_dicere]

If we’re going to live out in the world spreading the Gospel this isn’t going to be an uncommon situation.

I have a lot of friends who are pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, pro-gay marriage, all to varying degrees. Whne asked, I tell them, up front, why their opinions are faulty. OF course, I try to be as chartiable as possible,

Just the other day a friend at work brought up the “10 year old raped by her father and pregnant” argument. A simple response, “the circumstances of conception do not change the humanity of the unborn child. The 10 year old girl needs love, help and support, not an invasive operation to kill another child”.

Friendships don’t have to end because you guys have different opinions. I wouldn’t have any friends if that were the case!

But yeah, pray, pray, PRAY, I do it every morning for those friends. Its a pretty quick prayer, usuaually “Lord, come into the life of … and reveal your truth to him/her. May they see the dignity of teh human person created in your image”.

Don’t give up on them, you’re in their lives for a reason!