Relative pursuing "spiritually hungry" -- can I support this?

[mamaE]

An unemployed family member (been away from sacraments many years - but seems to be active spiritually) would like financial assistance ($9.99/mo) in order to purchase membership to a program called “spirituallyhungry” Other than what it says on their website I am unfamiliar with this program.

She has had some pretty major ups/downs in her life and I have always been happy to know that she frequently prays.

While I have always encouraged this person to return to the sacraments, I feel that if I don’t support this it will discourage her completely.

I would like to support her in this pursuit but at the same time I know that Catholicism is where I would like to see her headed.

Would it be wrong for me to offer assistance in order to support a relationship between her and God? I don’t want her to shut Him out completely.

Thank you.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

SpirituallyHungry is a “Christian” website. You know what that means. Not Catholic. And charging people 10 dollars a month to join is ridiculous when there are probably hundreds of free-of-charge Catholic and even “Christian” websites out there that she could read or join.

Tell your relative that first of all, you can’t in good conscience pay for her to be joining some non-Catholic website and that also, you are skeptical of a website that would charge people money when there are so many good, free websites out there.

Tell her she can find all kinds of free online resources to deepen her faith without needing to pay 10 dollars a month for a membership. Send her a few of your favorite Catholic faith websites. She can also go to her local parish church and probably find free programs and materials there.

Maybe if your parish has access to “Formed” you could point her to that website as it’s full of good media that would help her.

I would definitely not give her money for this.

 

[mamaE]

We have discussed Catholicism frequently. While I appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut as to resources, she will not pursue them. That is why I asked the question. It seems it is either a Christian approach or nothing for her at this time in her life.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If she truly wants to pursue a Christian, non-Catholic approach, then she has ample resources to do so without you having to contribute financially to it. There are dozens of free Christian resources that aren’t Catholic; I’m sure many Christian churches, Protestant and non-denominational, have free information or programs she could utilize.

It’s also wrong for her to ask or expect you to support a faith that isn’t your own. She’s an adult and is capable of getting a job and making her own 10 dollars a month to join this website if she’s determined to do so.

 

[Irishmom2]

Honestly, I think it is a little odd for them to be asking for money like that at all. If someone is unemployed, you would think they would try and live within their means and search other Christian websites, which, as Bear said, there are plenty of to be found for free.

To say that you need to support that site or nothing sounds a bit like emotional blackmail to me, even if that feeling comes from yourself and not your relative. You appear to be taking responsibility for something that is not up to you.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Encourage her to join a local congregation of her professed denomination. They will have faith groups she can join.

 

[Billl]

spirituallyhungry

When I googled it a free site came up. That offered a daily Scripture program.

 

[Bithynian]

When I googled it a free site came up. That offered a daily Scripture program.

I looked at the website and there’s a paid membership program that offers, among other things, “monthly lock-screens” and “home decor printables”.

Would it be wrong for me to offer assistance in order to support a relationship between her and God? I don’t want her to shut Him out completely.

OP, I don’t see an issue in principle. I have Christian friends who are non-Catholic and we routinely buy one another books and other resources that we think might be helpful to one another, even if we don’t personally subscribe to the contents of a given resource.

At the same time, I feel that this site isn’t value for money (not in the slightest) and feels somehow exploitative. Growth in Christian discipleship - whether Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant - occurs within the context of a supportive community of fellow believers, and this also applies to studying the Bible. Using an electronically delivered program authored by a person whom you don’t know in order to study the Bible alone can be a very sterile experience.

I would really encourage her to reach out to a local Christian community of her choosing first, as they will most likely be using their own particular set of resources and books for their Bible study program.