I'm back

[john6:63]

Hello Board:

A few may or may not remember me; it’s been since the summer that I’ve been on this forum. Anyway, I used to be a fundamental Baptist, started taking a critical look at the Catholic faith and in the mean time I was posting on the Baptist Board and was banned along with a few other Catholics and was invited here. That’s the shorten version.

Anyway, I’m back on the Baptist Board, posting as “riverm”. Last summer I was seriously considering taking an RCIA class, but backed out. My wife was all up in arms and our marriage was taking on too much stress, so I’ve since backed off and we are attending a United Methodist Church.

But I have to admit, that I still feel that I’m not doing what the Lord wants me to do and that’s reconcile with the Catholic Church. I’m kind of lost right now and don’t know what to do. I don’t want the needless stress in our marriage. My plans are to talk with my UM Pastor and a Priest sometime in January and again suggest to my wife that we both sign up for an RCIA class and study together, no pressure to join. I feel if I could just get her there and talk with someone who can explain her misconceptions, better than I can, she may be at least a little more open.

I’d appreciate any prayers and any suggestions I can do on my end.

Blessings
-Tommy

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

I remember you. good to see your posting again.

I really hope everything works out for you and your wife and the process of your conversion.

[thessalonian]

I'll renew my prayer efforts for you. Trust in the Lord and let him lead you. He has led you to where you are at and he is also in favor of marriage. Some of the recent converts such as Scott Hahn had similar difficulties in their marriages when they converted. It will require much patience on your part but trust in the Lord that they will get resolved.

It is a natural tendancy to want to avoid hardship but sometimes it is neccessary for the good of our soul and we must trust in his grace to carry us through.

Blessings

Edited December 23, 2005 by thessalonian

[Paphnutius]

I do not mean to come off as insensitive, but the Lord did say that He would come as as sword being a cause of seperation between father and son, mother and daughter, etc...

Prayers...

As I said, I do not want to come off as uncompassionate, my own family has experienced such an issue with my dad being a Mason. One must do what he thinks God is calling him to do, and must always follow the truth, but at the same time, one must also do such a thing prudently and charitably. I would recommend inviting your wife to Mass every once in a while and bringing her to speak with a priest if it is not out of the question.

Edited December 23, 2005 by Paphnutius

[Fides_et_Ratio]

Glad to see you posting again!

If you're up for a trip to Ohio... my parish has a once-a-month "Q&A about the Catholic faith", very informal talk/discussion. They invite non-Catholics who don't want to join to the Church to come and ask questions and receive answers from knowledgable Catholics about the Church. And it takes the pressure off of signing up for RCIA (though, some people do end up signing up afterwards, but they have to approach someone to do so as it's not advertised). They did this because a lot of people were calling with questions about the Church, but didnt' want to join/sign up for the classes. OR, maybe there is something like this near you?? I could ask around next time I see one of the members to see if they know of any other parishes anywhere in the US that do something like it.

Other than that... perhaps tell your wife that there's no contract in RCIA that demands you MUST join the Catholic Church... she can go a few times and then stop if she's sure she doesn't want to join or learn more about the Catholic faith. I'm not married, but I'm going to throw out my suggestion anyway... talk to your wife. Tell her that this is important to you, but more importantly, if you know that this is something God is calling you to investigate, then do it, even if your wife doesn't come around for a while. Though you are a couple, you are still responsible for yourself as well, and if you aren't taking care of your own spiritual needs, you'll have a harder time taking care of your wife. I agree though, it would be much easier and less stressful if you could find a way to investigate together.

You will both be in my prayers.

[tojo]

I feel for you man. my conversion was kind of hard, and I am single. I can't imagine how difficult it is when you have a family. The Church is wonderful though, it's definately worth it no matter how hard it is.