Sorry it’s taken so long to respond to your comments. No offense was taken by any of your comments at all. I do agree with what you both say about not wanting to take the risk with our children marrying non-catholics. I agree that the majority of people who marry someone of a different religion probably don’t successfully convert them. From there, it’s a tough road full of painful compromises and sacrifices. However, our children eventually reach an age where they make their choices … some that we will like and approve of and some which we might not like so much. It’s one thing to *interrogate* a teenage boy who wants to date your daughter. It’s another thing to interrogate, say, a 30-yr-old man possibly who wants to date your 25-yr-old. They’re both adults. I’m not sure what I’ll think about that type of thing in another few yrs when my oldest is in her 20′s. We’ve laid the foundation, we pray, we guide and then we must let her make her choices (with her mistakes) and give our opinion if asked or if absolutely necessary and then … keep praying! (Easier said than done, I will admit.) I think our children will probably bring up religion enough in a conversation that if a *suitor* wasn’t interested in the Catholic Faith, he or she would eventually RUN far, far away.

Knight Errant, you say that you cannot take that risk with your daughters. I’m saying, hopefully we’ll have that choice but we might not! My brother wound up getting his girlfriend pregnant and had a quick wedding which, because the girl was previously married and hadn’t had it annulled, they couldn’t marry in the Catholic Church. My parents were devastated … mostly embarrassed, I think. But, it was stated that they did things ars-backwards and that we all hoped his now wife would get an annulment and have the marriage blessed in the Catholic Church. Because we all stood in support, she did get the annulment and they did have it blessed in the Church and they are still married. So …my point is, stuff happens that we don’t have control over! (My brother was 26 and his then girlfriend was 28 .. .they were living in another state from my parents!) So, we state our disappointment if necessary and then do as your in-laws did and embrace the new family member and coax them back into the fold. I see Christ in that very much. Maybe I’ll change my mind about this one day, but for now it’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!

Have a good weekend.

I was once a young boy too, you know. Been there.

Love the courtin’ attire, Master Paul.

http://img.alibaba.com/photo/100054088/Bullet_Proof_Jacket.jpg

I did have one conversation with your eldest son about my daughter, and a few other things. He’s a good kid. Justified fear is a sign of wisdom.

And Jen, your point is well taken – When my wife married me I was an unbaptized, unrepentant and undeserving pagan. Well I’m still undeserving, but at least through her perseverance I am now baptized and repentant!

However, I don’t think I am prepared to take that chance with my daughters. Robin’s parents were willing, perhaps through ignorance, neglect, or maybe even hope to take a risk with me, but I don’t think I can take that risk on behalf of those whom God has put under my protection. For that I will be called to account on the day of judgment, and I do not intend to take a chance on that.