Would you or should you convert if it will cause family problems? (long post follows)

[mesl4]

My husband was baptized and confirmed Catholic but never went to church or really had a relationship w/God. He went through those sacraments because that’s what you do in Mexico. It’s part of the culture or whatever but really didn’t mean anything to him. He doesn’t remember learning anything about the faith,etc.

When I met him in High School in the USA, I was not living a very virtuous life myself, but did have a strong prayer life and loved God from very young (my family went to Protestant church as I grew up). In college, when we were thinking of dating, I was becoming more in-tuned w/God and was baptized at 17. From then I tried to get closer to God and live according to his will - slowly, but surely. I didn’t want to marry a non-Christian (practicing) so force-fed my now hubby all the doctrine I could, took him to church, read the BIble w/him, etc. Eventually we got married even though I wished he was more in love w/God.

It took a lot of arm-twisting , but he eventually joined my Bible Study groups and Community Groups, and went to church w/me w/out a complaint. He’s always said he was a believer, just doens’t seem to have much passion or interest or evidence of that.

Anyway, I’ve gone from some pretty anti-catholic views, to now, some pretty pro-Catholic views and am in RCIA and have over the past yr felt God really teaching me RC is the true faith. My husband is not happy about this. He thinks it will caus all our early marital problems to come up again w/me trying to get him to go to the RC church and teach our kids the RC way, etc. He thinks it will confuse the kids, and cause us a lot of marital probs. Especially when it comes to NFP. We’ve never thought contraception was a sin although I did feel uncomfortable w/the hormonal contraceptives because they are potentially abortifacient so preferred the non-hormonal methods.

He does not believe the RC is inspired by God and fears, as I did, that they may really lead someone astray from the true Christian life, yet he doesn’t like to read and won’t read or listen to any of the material I try to show him that has converted me. So what do I do? Though I’m not 100% convinced of the RC yet, I feel like if I don’t convert I may be ignoring God’s call, and worse, choosing my family harmony over God! If I do, it will potentially tear up our family, when I could be saved as a Protestant anyway. (Afterall, it’s not a guarantee I’d be saved as a Catholic anyway!) What would you do? What would the church teach me to do?

 

[survive]

Didn’t our Lord come to divide people from their own households? To neglect the Truth for the sake of family harmony isn’t likely to work for long and wouldn’t be worth it if it did.

 

[pentecostbaby]

Say the Rosary, go to Eucharistic Adoration (google it if you’re not quite sure what it is - basically, you go pray in Church in front of the tabernacle to talk to Jesus, or you go when the host is exposed on the altar), and pray, pray, pray. Ask St. Monica for help - she prayed for her son to convert for most of her life, and her son went on to become St. Augustine, one of the most revered Doctors of the Church.

Most of all, trust God. He works wonders.

If you can, have your husband recite - even just once! - the Divine Mercy Chaplet with you. You can find links on EWTN. Jesus promised that even the most hardened sinner, if he says it once, will receive important graces. It has worked amazing things in my life.

 

[Newbie2]

As with St. Monica, it may take YEARS to get him on board, and some compromise in the meantime. Sounds like there’s a concern that such a conversion could lead to a breakup of the marriage.

Sounds like some counseling may be in order, as well as the previous suggestions.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Mes,

Yeah, you need to see your parish priest.

Verbum

 

[DominicVobiscum]

Mes, you and your family are in my prayers.

Two years ago I sponsored a young man in RCIA. He came from an Episcopalian upringing. His father is a staunch anti-Catholic, and the young man knew there would be problems. He prayed and prayed and prayed some more. He made the leap and was received into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Yep, his dad blew a fuse, and caused some serious problems in the family. Dad blew another fuse last year when his daughter came into the Church.

Today, dad and son are still on speaking terms. The subject of the Catholic Church is not brought up at the supper table, but the father and son relationship is still intact. The young man’s wife (still Episcopalian) can be seen at our parishes activities. Their children are enrolled in CCD.

Only you can decide when the Holy Spirit is influence enough for you to convert. I don’t believe Jesus desires the breakup of any family. Perhaps there are some other issues in your family that need to be resolved before pursuing coming into the Catholic Church.

I would make an appointment with the priest. He can guide you and most importantly pray for you.