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"Hello. I am curious about the obligation of parents to teenage children once parents convert. I have been catholic all along but the Wife is not and never has been. She is now converting from another Christian religion. Now the problem. The kids (hers from aprevious marriage) ARE REFUSING. The oldest one said NO FXXXING WAY IN HELL!!! My wife wants me to use force in converting the kids as well. They are happy in their religion and I feel this would cause resentment. My oldest stepson has threatened to sabatoge the whole thing (He says he will cause a riot at the vigil if he has to in order to prevent having to join the church). He is 16 and now driving and the wife wants to take stuff away if he refuses. I feel that maybe we should just lay off. She does not want me talking to the church about this.
My feeling is I DONT WANT THE KIDS IN THE CHURCH IF THEY ARE SO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT. PERIOD. I am sore no priest in this country wants unwilling people to join even if their parents do. This stepson has already thrown a few violent fits and at one point tried to hit his mother and I had to pull him off. He was a happy kid until this happened and he even has said he wished his mom was dead. He has threatened to go with his dad (who he really does not get along with so this means he is adamant) or grandparents if she continues. He told me either she lay off or someone will be hurt both physically and mentally. WE NEED ADVISE
Are we obligated to force any kids to conversion? Someone at EWTN says WE ARE AT ALL COSTS. I dont buy it. But thewife feels the family should stick together."
Hi, Jack:
Thanks for the question.
Your wife certainly has the freedom and righ to enter full-communion with the Catholic Church, and ought not to be mistreated by any family member, including her own son, for doing so.
This 16-year old son you describe most certainly should not be forced into the Catholic Church, because this would not be a true conversion anyway in the depths of his heart. I sense there are deeper issues at work here, a true evil of some sort. Lay off the son; and if he is still aggressively militant against anyone in the family choosing to become a Catholic, then he clearly has a real problem. This sounds like a very disheartening and sad situation. I wish you the veru best. Peace to you.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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