Protestant in Laws?

[dizzy_dave]

My wife is a convert to Catholicism. Her family was (is) Baptist, I got in a huge arguement with her parents over the religion issue years ago when my wife and I were dating, we are all ok now, we just don’t discuss it. Anyway my wife’s Grandfather is a strict Baptist and a very involved one and he makes comment all the time to her when I am not around about Catholics (fish eaters, etc.) He doesn’t do it around me, her parents do it occasionally but not anything major, how should I respond to this? Should I respond to this? Her parents currently don’t even go to their own church. It just bothers me and I know my wife’s grandfather would try to convert her back, the Baptist church they attend pushes those Jack Chick tracts around so I have a good idea of what their view of Catholicism is. My wife isn’t real strong in the faith, I’m worried some day they might be able to sway her back, we also have 4 children all Baptized Catholics I know they don’t like that either.

 

[Elizabeth_B]

I recommend turning the other cheek with her grandfather. Confronting him will not help the situation.

I also recommend signing up for faith formation classes with your wife, participating actively in parish life, and also ensuring your children are surrounded fully with Catholicism. Be an active partner in your wife’s spiritual journey.

Now that are children are a little older, my husband and I participate in Eucharistic Adoration each Saturday evening. This has involved into a weekly “date night” and has had a great impact on the spiritual aspects of our marriage.

I hope these thoughts are useful.

 

[kirabira]

I think older people are definitely more difficult to deal with because they just assume they know everything =)

The most I would do would be to leave a person like this a book. That way you have given them information, but its up to them to turn the pages. It sounds like your wife is the one who has to come up with a plan on how to deal with this. Either just ignoring it or deciding to say ‘that makes me uncomfortable when you say ‘x’’ or 'leaving a book saying: I think this will help you understand more about us Catholics"
etc-- but always deal with people with charity and respect-- kill them with kindness as they say…
–K