Sexual Morality issues within family

[Abigail_Phantom]

This May I was confirmed into the Church. I was baptized and had my First Holy Communion but then my mom took us out of the Church because of an issue she had with some of the people at our local parish. My baby brother had is FHC and Confirmation within the Church at the same time.

We both take our faith very seriously. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and of the Church choir. I teach 1st and 9th grade CCD and am also a member of the choir. We are both very pro-life and agree with the Church’s teaching on sexual morality. Which includes waiting until marriage and not using artificial birth control (ABC).

This is causing some friction in our house between our mother (mostly) and our middle brother.

Now my mother is “Catholic” but she is one of those “Jesus knows where I am on Sunday” and pick and choose what she wants to follow when it comes to Church teachings. She told my brother after we went to a walk for life that he “needed” to be pro-choice because he doesn’t understand how hard it is for some woman out there.

Then when I was talking about being against ABC as it related to my friend who has anxiety when it comes to even the thought of being pregnant, I said that she should allow God to work within her life to see if she was called to have any biological children (She has a very strong calling to be an adoptive parent). My mother snapped at me saying not everyone needs to have children. Which really hadn’t been my point but she is very pro-ABC.

Then tonight when we were watching TV a political ad came one about this woman who was running and talking about women’s health care and how it related to breast cancer and then it switched to wanting the pill to be over the counter. I made a comment about ABC being ironic being placed in with women’s health care. When she said it was health care I disagreed with her pointing out some of the side effects and she laughed at me.

Then telling my youngest brother the story my middle brother over heard and got annoyed at me. Telling me that the increased risks to women’s health from the pill was just the same as anything else. That is was “just numbers”.

This is starting to drive me nuts. Most of the time I talk about this stuff in relationship to my life. My mother didn’t raise us with strong sexual morals of the Catholic type. She gave us ABC at 16 and told me when I was ready she would get me on the pill so I could have “safe” sex. Now my middle brother is in a relationship and his lack of faith formation has lead him completely away from any faith or religion. He is in a relationship and I am hoping that my witness of chastity in my life will help lead him to make better choices.

At the same time I hate being treated like I’m just buying into a bunch of bull and that I am being foolish.

I’m not really sure there is a question in there, I think I just needed to put it out there.

 

[Evania]

You are doing a great job! You are providing witness to your middle brother and everyone around you. Are you praying the rosary for your family? Try praying it each day. St. Padre Pio called it a spiritual weapon against evil. If you combine fasting with your prayers, that will be even more powerful. Anyway, you are in my prayers. I know it’s not easy, but keep speaking and living the Truth. As St. Paul says in 1 Tim 6:12 “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.”

God Bless!

 

[Trident_H]

Thanks for standing up. Even when it’s hard. Or, I guess. Especially when it’s hard. You can vent here anytime. You’ve earned it!

Peace Abigail.

-Trident

 

[Dorothy]

Abigail,

God bless you! Stay close to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother always!

Jesus reminds us that we will be hated because of Him. Keep praying and Jesus’ deep peace will help you through this. I know that it is a struggle, but it can bear much good fruit. It already is!

Peace,

Dorothy

 

[1990Domer]

God bless you. Pray to Mary, as she will surely love to be your spiritual mother. She will keep you strong. If you can, offer even a decade of the Holy Rosary for your mom’s conversion.

You will be in my prayers!

 

[Abigail_Phantom]

Thank you for the kind words and prays.

God bless you all.

 

[Demetra2]

Wow! I’m very impressed by your strong faith. God Bless you and thank you. It is not easy to have a mother who is a cafeteria type Catholic. Your mother deep down may know that you are right in holding true to the faith and you probably threaten her emotionally and spiritually. That is her problem. Parents don’t enjoy being corrected by their kids so I would advise not arguing with her anymore about morals. Just live your life with good morals and that is the best statement of all. She is entitled to her beliefs even if they are completely wrong. By following a different and better path you will make a subtle but strong impression on your family. They may give you grief and I would speak to your priest for some solid advice on how to handle her until you are on your own. Good luck!

 

[pnewton]

Welcome to the world and isn’t it the pits at times? The world is really a pretty broken, messed-up place and sometimes we get so overwhelmed by the bad we do not see the good. Heck, sometimes there really is not much good to see. So here is my generic advice on life, since you have no question. I believe we do not often have a hard time deciding what is right or wrong. I think most of the time we ask this question, we do so because we know what is right, but we simply do not want to plunge into the possible (probable) results of doing what is right.

One who is both young and has her head screwed on straight, has the opportunity to start a pattern of doing what she believes to be right, then plugging on. The good thing about life, is that it does change, and when we honor God, it changes for the better, at least as far as our coping. Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

My wife, when she was young, was given a little book, Imitation of Mary. It is still in print. I can think of nothing better for a young lady getting started in the world. It is a collection of simple, short devotions.