Fr. Josh answers questions about following the commandment to honor your parents when it comes to childhood abuse, living with chronic anxiety, being the first in a family to convert to Catholicism, dealing with absent fathers, and avoiding the communion cup during flu season. If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!
Snippet from the Show
We aren’t mandated to re-establish mutual trust with everybody, but we are called to forgive. If we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us.
SHOWNOTES
Glory Story (2:43)
Fr. Josh talks about an intellectual conversion he had this week that brought him freedom.
Childhood Abuse (8:27)
I have a few questions that have been heavy on my heart and I was hoping you’d pray and reflect on these. To children who are victims of childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse at the hands of their parents….how can you reconcile that with the commandments to honor thy parents?
-Dawn
Anxiety (15:33)
First and foremost, I just want to thank you for being an incredible inspiration to us all. My question is, I struggle with anxiety all the time. I can’t seem to find this inner peace. I struggle to trust. How does a practicing Catholic go about this?
-Megan
Converting to Catholicism (24:01)
I am a 40 y.o. wife, mother (with one daughter left at home age 15) and Christian. As an adult I have always attended non-denomination type churches. We recently moved to a small town where there is only one Christian church. I’m involved there but unhappy with the pastor. Recently, I’ve been attending going to Catholic mass in a different town and feel like that’s where I belong. So here is my question: I truly desire to convert to the Catholic faith but wonder if that is the right thing for several reasons. One, my husband is content & happy in his “Protestant Faith” and I would say the same for my teenage daughter. Is it right to leave them behind and move towards conversion? I see the value in attending church as a family so where does this lead me? I feel so torn and feel like I have to choose between faith and my family/community church. Do I just remain what I call a “Closet Catholic” (lol) and keep reading and devouring podcasts for my spiritual growth or make a step away from my family faith wise? I truly don’t know what to do and pray you’ll be able to give me some insight.
-A Loving Wife and Mother
Father Abandonment (28:34)
First off – I’d like to say that I absolutely love the podcast! I think you are helping many people and doing a great job. I’ll try to keep my question short. My father left my life at a young age and I never had a relationship with him. As you can imagine it affected me very negatively growing up. I often sought the love and attention elsewhere. Now I’m 23 and I want to get to the place of forgiveness, but I’m not sure how. I still have a void in my heart. I do not have contact with my dad at all. I want to turn to God as he’s our eternal father. But sometimes it’s hard and I feel like I’ve missed out on having a father figure in my life. Any advice?
-Bianca
Communion Cup (33:31)
I don’t want to drink out of the same cup at communion especially during flu season because I’m a germaphobe. Is that wrong?
-Josh
Universal Points (34:56)
- Childhood Abuse – Honoring parents does not mean that we must tolerate their sins, especially ones that affect us. Justice is a good thing for them and for us.
- Anxiety – God heals in many different ways – from prayer and adoration to therapy and medication.
- Converting to Catholicism – Any invitation from Jesus is a good thing.
- Father Abandonment – Forgiveness and reconciliation (re-establishing mutual trust) are not the same thing.
- Communion Cup – It’s optional, but never a bad thing.
Resources
Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn
Meet Your Host, Fr. Josh Johnson:
While Fr. Josh was raised Catholic, he didn’t like the Church growing up. One day, in adoration, he fell in love with Jesus and received the call to become a priest. Now, Fr. Josh is the pastor for Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Louisiana, and he is a presenter in two of Ascension’s programs: Altaration, and YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body.
