Sin to unfriend Family on FB?

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prolifeteenager

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Being uncharitable seems likely to be sinful if done with full knowledge and intent. However, I may be scrupulous here, but is it uncharitable to unfriend toxic family members on Facebook?
I have already restricted them but since they never reach out to me, I feel like there is no use with being friends on FB. I don’t want them to see my profile pictures and timeline pictures or anything else I make public.
The back story on why is that since a big argument a long time ago, the only contact they have had with me has been negative. I have tried my best to be charitable but they curse at me and use catholicism to try to guilt trip me into being submissive to their wants. I have my own life apart from them now, and to be honest, the only reason my husband and I ever argue is because I can’t let go of them. We both agree they are a toxic influence in my life, but it has been hard to overcome the guilt tripping they do to me every time I try to make things better between us.
They really suck the life out of my soul. And, it has only been after I cut them off that I am able to pray again. Before, I felt so unwanted and depressed that I couldn’t even muster up a prayer to God. But I fear unfriending them will cause retaliation on their side. Should I do it anyway? :confused::confused::confused:
 
I’m confused. Is the concern that you will be committing a sin, or that they will retaliate? If they retaliate, that’s no indication of sinfulness on your part, not in the least.

You’re not even required to use Facebook, so I have a hard time seeing how it would be sinful at all. If you unfriend them, I’d block them as well, so they can’t see that you even have a profile. (Anything that is public is viewable even if you’re not logged in.)
 
Go ahead and unfriend them. You’ve no obligation to keep them as friends on Facebook, or whatever, and you might be removing an occasion of sin for yourself or them.
 
It isn’t a sin to establish healthy boundaries with people.
 
I’m inclined to think your motives would matter more than the actions in this case. If you were doing it out of spite, or wrath, in an attempt to hurt them, it may be a sin.

But, if it’s solely out of self preservation, or to keep your peace, then I don’t think it would be. Ask your priest to be sure.
 
From the details given, it sounds like unfriending them would be prudent and wise, rather than sinful. Now if you were to make some big public post about how horrible they are and that’s why you’re unfriending them, then that might be uncharitable. But quietly reclaiming your digital life and mental health sounds like nothing but a positive to me.

Over the last few years I’ve done several FB friend purges to narrow down to the non-toxic and I never regretted it.
 
I have struggled with this my entire life but I am a better person by setting limits and boundaries with toxic people in my life and that includes family members. A few years ago I read about what Jesus meant when He said to turn the other cheek. Perhaps I am wrong but I always thought this meant to endure whatever was presented to you. I now believe He meant to not retaliate but turn the other cheek meaning don’t allow yourself to be struck again. I hope I understand this correctly. I think continuing paths with people of conflict is wrong so I strive to be pleasant and kind when I see them but not open up pathways for ill will on both parts. I hope this helps because I have struggled with this my entire life.
 
I have my social media profile set up like Fort Knox. The only thing I don’t have are snipers who shoot people trying to friend request me (they wanted to unionize). Personally, I don’t see an issue with it. The way I feel is my page is like my house, if I wouldn’t have you over for a friendly visit then you have no business on my page. As far as sinfulness, I don’t believe Our Lord ever preached on social media (though he does have a page 🙂 ).
 
I hope not. I took my MIL off of my facebook for almost a year because she was being obnoxious.
 
In addition to talking to a priest as has been suggested already, I think you might benefit from the book “Boundaries” by Dr. Henry Cloud. You can probably check it out of the library.

BTW, I think restricting them is probably ‘enough’ because FB is a fast way to send someone a message on their messaging feature just in case. Unfriend them if you want.
 
I unfriended a cousin who left the church years ago. I had not wanted her on my friends list in the first place (her sister in law had suggested Amy as a friend with the suggest a friend option). She also thinks the reformation was all about Jesus (had posted a flier advertising her Lutheran church’s reformation celebration party and it actually said this!)

I rarely unfriend people unless they were added just for playing games and I stopped playing those specific games).
 
Why on earth would it be a sin ?

Our human life is not a Hallmark card. We need boundaries with family as with everybody else.

Families are the means God has chosen for the propagation of generations; that does not make them necessarily free from trouble and hurt. You are under no obligation to get hurt.

(Then again, FB being a plot from Hades, maybe dropping it altogether might be a better choice??)

ICXC NIKA
 
GEddie said:
(Then again, FB being a plot from Hades, maybe dropping it altogether might be a better choice??)

ICXC NIKA
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👍

I am not on face book and it is post like these that sadden me. I can not believe what the world has come to
 
I’ve had to unfriend many a family member on Facebook.

Among the reasons are they bash the Catholic faith, bash the religious faithful, create gossip over what I do, or stalk and comment on pages that I’ve liked or are a member of.

The worst was a far off cousin in Indiana. I posted pics of my wife at a snowy Valentines Day retreat and my wife was wearing her fox fur coat. My cousin then commented about how she hates fur and PETA should educate me, blah blah. A month later, we had a good snow and my wife was out in a different fur coat, and I thought she looked remarkably pretty and I took and posted the pic. Same cousin posted several “caps-lock” comments about how nobody cares about her feelings on things and how disrespectful I was.
 
prolifeteenager said:
Being uncharitable seems likely to be sinful if done with full knowledge and intent. However, I may be scrupulous here, but is it uncharitable to unfriend toxic family members on Facebook?
I have already restricted them but since they never reach out to me, I feel like there is no use with being friends on FB. I don’t want them to see my profile pictures and timeline pictures or anything else I make public.
The back story on why is that since a big argument a long time ago, the only contact they have had with me has been negative. I have tried my best to be charitable but they curse at me and use catholicism to try to guilt trip me into being submissive to their wants. I have my own life apart from them now, and to be honest, the only reason my husband and I ever argue is because I can’t let go of them. We both agree they are a toxic influence in my life, but it has been hard to overcome the guilt tripping they do to me every time I try to make things better between us.
They really suck the life out of my soul. And, it has only been after I cut them off that I am able to pray again. Before, I felt so unwanted and depressed that I couldn’t even muster up a prayer to God. But I fear unfriending them will cause retaliation on their side. Should I do it anyway? :confused::confused::confused:
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Honestly, and I don’t mean to be mean here but if you have this question you shouldn’t be on Facebook at all. One needed to not even have second thoughts about unfriending people that disturb your peace.
 
There is nothing wrong with wanting your friends to be folk who are actually friendly.
 
egretps said:
In addition to talking to a priest as has been suggested already, I think you might benefit from the book “Boundaries” by Dr. Henry Cloud. You can probably check it out of the library.
…
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Great recommendation. Great book.
 
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