Correcting Other Catholics

[OnlySunshine]

I had a talk with my mom yesterday that really didn't go well. I went out to lunch with her and some other family members (most of them Catholics as well) and they were talking about how my oldest cousin just learned that she is expecting her 4th child. All of my family members (except for me) were like, "I thought that was all she was planning to have? Is she going to get her tubes tied? Is her husband going to have a vasectomy?" As I was hearing this, my heart sunk down to my stomach. It's like all of them were so against her having another child! My cousin has said at family gatherings when the issue has been brought up that she didn't want anymore children. I don't think any of them understand the concept of God's will at all. Since we were in a public place, I was not able to bring up the subject right then to talk about, but I really wanted to. It made me so angry to think that a child is considered a burden instead of a gift.

As my mom and I were going home, I decided that was a good time to bring it up since it was just her and I. But it did not go over well. She kept telling me that it was none of my business and it was just between the husband and wife if they wanted to use contraception (which didn't make sense since she was one of the ones encouraging that my cousin use birth control; that would cross her argument out). I told her that it was my business because as a Catholic, I have a duty to inform those of their misunderstandings and remind them of Church teachings. She said that just because something was written in stone doesn't mean people are going to follow it. I could see I was getting nowhere and since we were driving, I was worried about a huge argument, so I decided it wasn't worth pushing at this time. I tried my best, but I am just not fluent in apologetics and my debating skills are not strong.

Sometimes I feel like doing this

[tinytherese]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1284970420' post='2174809']

I told her that it was my business because as a Catholic, I have a duty to inform those of their misunderstandings and remind them of Church teachings. She said that just because something was written in stone doesn't mean people are going to follow it.
[/quote]

I hate it when people say comments like that. It reminds me of what Joshua said in Josh 24:15, "And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in teh region beyond the River, or the gods of the Am'orites in whose land you dwell; [i]but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD[/i]" (emphasis added.)


Dr. Janet Smith's talk "Contraception Why Not?" is so far the best explanation I've encountered when it comes to explaining Church teaching on the subject. http://catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0002.html

Edited September 24, 2010 by tinytherese

[1catholic]

I've been wondering the same thing...

Like if ppl are baptized catholic and have had their first communion but don't go to church every sunday (we are in hs and dependents) and are openly and actively against church teachings...ought one tell them that they prob shouldn't be going to communion or do u mind ur own business b.c we can't really read their heart and have plenty of faults of our own...

I think its a lot easier w/ catholic non-catholics...


Sometimes the response will surprise you. I have a close friend who didn't realize communion could only be received by catholics. I know she believes it is Christ and wants to be catholic in many ways but we're still in high school so i dont imagine converting would exactly be easy...anyway I was really worried about telling her cuz i didnt want to push her away from the church...but after I did tell her...granted a few hrs later as there were classes to go to...she asked some really sincere questions about communion and said she was terribly sorry...


So i guess if ur friend is really trying to be Catholic I'd pray then talk w/ them...they might appreciate the information

[Klaudi87]

The best advice I've been given is to pray and sacrafice for them. The rest is in God's hands he may or may not use you to bring about a conversion. If they are completely close to hearing the truth then def prayer and sacrafice is really your only option. If they are open (even if its just a little) then putting in you two cents would be a good idea as it is as spiritual work of mercy as Brother Adam previously stated. Ive come to find that when I say things to my family it dosent always click until a friend or someone else tells them. ....God works in mysterious ways thats for sure