What To Do? Tell Hubby/Family I want to check out the Catholic Church!

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DJgang

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I’m going to lay it out for everyone to know and hear on this forum. I need so much advice, I don’t know where to begin.

I just purchased “ROME SWEET HOME” by the Hahn’s and the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH"…I’m looking forward to reading both.

Background - I am Episcopalian (confirmed May 2004), the more I read and look into the Catholic Faith, the more I agree with the beliefs and realize I am in a way already “living” the faith in my heart if that’s possible.

I want to inquire about RCIA classes real soon. My problem…how do I tell my husband? How do I tell my family? Honestly, my husband will probably be somewhat "alright’ with it, but my family…oh my gosh!

Then, if hubby doesn’t want to attend classes or visit the church with me…do I just forget it all? AFter all, I feel that it’s really important that we all worship together (hubby and three children) that we all have the same faith and attend the same church.

I honestly thought about not telling my family or his family if he decides. And futhermore, just because I go to RCIA classes…it doesn’t mean that I HAVE to become Catholic.

Encouragement … Advice?

I know that you guys have probably seen / read numerous threads on this same subject, but, hey, I want personal advice for me…😃
 
Read that book by the Hahns. Scott began going to Mass first and Kimberly strongly resisted. He ended up going to Mass and his wife’s church on Sundays. He didn’t push her into going to Mass with him and didn’t belittle her beliefs. He just prayed really hard and waited for the opportunity to rise to share his faith. After a while, she came around and then joined the Church. It really is a wonderful book, it will give you a lot of hope.
 
Hi DJgang! I am a convert to the faith. None of my family are catholics… my husband isn’t either - but he is super supportive. Every woman should have the same kind of support! 🙂 My family didn’t shun me - they just “Didn’t want to hear it” - didn’t want to come to my confirmation, or hear about my conversion. Pretty cold. Also, most of my friends who were protestant were cool to me too - with the exception of a couple who have stayed friends, but still think I’m nuts. You don’t have to tell your family outside of your husband, and I wouldn’t advise it if you think they are going to cause trouble in your life and marraige. As an adult you aren’t accountable to them. If you do convert, you will be prepared by the Holy Spirit to answer them. Your husbands blessing is what is important. You will have to answer the question of raising your children in the faith. Your husband may be resistant, but work it out with your sponsor, priest, and husband… God Bless, and Welcome Home.
 
I too grew up as an Episcopalian. Converted a couple of years ago. My siblings, who “saw the light” and joined the Evangelical Church have a few words about my choice of religion. I choose to be Catholic.

If you family shuns you, you will always have a family here

Where in the South are you?
 
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DJgang:
I’m going to lay it out for everyone to know and hear on this forum. I need so much advice, I don’t know where to begin.

I just purchased “ROME SWEET HOME” by the Hahn’s and the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH"…I’m looking forward to reading both.

Background - I am Episcopalian (confirmed May 2004), the more I read and look into the Catholic Faith, the more I agree with the beliefs and realize I am in a way already “living” the faith in my heart if that’s possible.

I want to inquire about RCIA classes real soon. My problem…how do I tell my husband? How do I tell my family? Honestly, my husband will probably be somewhat "alright’ with it, but my family…oh my gosh!

Then, if hubby doesn’t want to attend classes or visit the church with me…do I just forget it all? AFter all, I feel that it’s really important that we all worship together (hubby and three children) that we all have the same faith and attend the same church.

I honestly thought about not telling my family or his family if he decides. And futhermore, just because I go to RCIA classes…it doesn’t mean that I HAVE to become Catholic.

Encouragement … Advice?

I know that you guys have probably seen / read numerous threads on this same subject, but, hey, I want personal advice for me…😃
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Welcome home.

And one thing at a time, ok? Talk to your husband first…remember, you will be lead by Christ and if it His will that you come home to the Catholic Church, you will.
 
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DJgang:
My problem…how do I tell my husband? How do I tell my family? Honestly, my husband will probably be somewhat "alright’ with it, but my family…oh my gosh!..
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Can you be a little more descriptive of their issue with your faith? What do you expect will be the nature of their objection?

As a married mother of three, you are probably enough of an adult to make this decision for yourself. Obviously your husband needs to be a part of the process–at the very least be fully informed, hopefully supportive and ideally, in step with you. However, your extended family really doesn’t get a vote on this issue. Whether you choose to inform them of your decision is up to you. If you anticipate that it will generate nothing but animosity, criticism or angst–perhaps there is nothing to gain by telling them. You do not need their approval or permission.
Best of luck with your journey.
 
DJ – If your husband doesn’t want to read *Rome Sweet Home *you might enjoy listening to the audiotape version together – maybe on a long car trip? It takes about 4 hours.

The parts about Kimberley Hahn’s struggles against the Church are very moving. But the door cracked open for her when she studied contraception in seminary and became convinced that life was the Biblical value . . . SHE converted Scott on that one! – several years before they came into the Church.
 
Check out the Ask an Apologist forum. There is a similar question today with a few links that might help. Also, Father Serpa has answered similar questions in the past. (I didn’t succeed when I tried to find those Q and As. But similar questions to yours were posted and answered.)

Here is the link to one Q and A:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=73840
 
La Chiara - thanks for the heads up on Ask the Apologist topic…I looked at that forum topic earlier but didn’t see.

Island Oak - a little more background, he was raised Methodist, I was raised Baptist, when we married (by Methodist minister/family friend) we decided that especially before we had children, we must find a church home. My husband did mention the Catholic Church since, in his words, “it’s the oldest church and must be okay”. But, we found the Presbyterian Church. We felt at home there and came to know our pastor and his family rather well. Alot of turnoil happened in our Presbyterian church, very unchristian things. Our friend left the church as pastor, moved away and we left the church hurt almost beyond “repair”. So our pastor friend begged us to visit the Episcopal church in our town since he knew the priest personally and felt that we too would feel at home there. And I have. My husband is on the finance committee, I’m somewhat involved in the worship committee and the women’s group at the church. I also help with Sunday school. What’s funny is I told my husband that this was the last church we were going to…that I would tired of moving…:o My family, well, my father like to have died when he attended the baptism of my second child…“are they drinking from the same cup”…When he found out we were visiting the Episcopal church he said “Isn’t that just King so and so’s version of the Catholic church?” My father will not give me grief or problems personally to my face, but will just probably think that I am crazy in his own mind.

LSK - I think that I will talk to my husband first. Funny, but the last few months, whenever I have come across something within the Catholic faith that totally makes sense to me, I’ll explain it to him and elaborate that I think the Catholics “got it going on” or “figured out”…he usually agrees. It may not surprise him that I want to visit the church. Also, when I found out that I was pregnant with our third child, he made the comment…“am I going to have to take away your Catholic Radio?” because you see, he was fine with two children and well, number three was a wonderful surprise!

dhgray - Southern Belle from Alabama

rides - that my biggest concern is my husband. It is so important to me that we attend the same church, etc. I honestly don’t think that he would have a problem with our children being raised Catholic. Just this past month I have made the decision to send our kids to Catholic school ( oldest will start next year) …he has no problem with that at all, only thing he said is…“what if they want to become priests”…my answer, “that’s fine with me”…my manly husband wants them all to be mechanics or farmers or something like that, of course he was just kidding about the priest thing.
 
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