Scenario # 5
Support for a Support Group

John and Marilyn are committed homeschooling Catholics, well acquainted with the apologetics behind their faith. They've just moved to a sleepy little town in the Bible Belt. Marilyn has been an active member of a Catholic Homeschoolers' Group for years, and was looking forward to joining the local support group. The only group in town requires that members sign a "Statement of Faith" that includes an assent of "The inerrancy, sufficiency and authority of the Holy Bible as the only inspired word of God." Their new friends all know they are Catholic, and are encouraging John and Marilyn to go ahead and join anyway. They're not sure what to do.
What would you do?


Here's a few responses from readers like you!

Marilyn may have to accept that the nearest support group isn't for her. In my area of the Bible Belt, there is a regional Catholic support group which requires a longish drive in one direction, or a secular group which requires a longish drive in the other direction. There may be similar groups in Marilyn's area, if she's willing to make the trip.

Or Marilyn may need to start her own group. I told my pastor that we homeschool, and he gave me the name of another homeschooler in the parish. She told me about some others, and we're now seeing if we have enough people and interest to start a parish homeschooling group.

Victoria
Via E-Mail
Hi, we were in the same situation, almost exactly, a couple of years ago when a christian support group formed in our area. They also made up a statement of faith and passes it around,although there was no requirement to sign. I thought of making my "catholic point",but
decided to just let God take care of it. After all, although perhaps not complete, it is not really wrong, in that the Bible tells us to pass on
our faith by word and tradition. etc. In leaving well enough alone, we have made many friends in the non-catholic churches in our area. There have been many opportunities to witness to the beauty and completeness of the Catholic Church, and they are very open to hearing our point, because we didn't ostracize ourselves in the beginning. It's not a matter of not defending your faith, but rather waiting until the Spirit opens the ears of the hearer.
Bart
Via E-Mail

I had to laugh when I read the "What Would You Do" scenario from the most recent issue of "Envoy" magazine. It appeared to be deja vu all over again. As a 16 year old homeschooler who lives in a small town in the Bible

Belt, I have encountered something very close to the situation you described. To make a very long story short, a homeschooling group emerged in our immediate area which demanded that one must sign their statement of faith before joining their group. Unfortunatly, it included the acknowledgement of "the inerrancy, sufficiency, and authority of the Holy Bible as the only inspired word of God." Our entire family thought and prayed, and came to the conclusion that it would not be possible for us to sign.

Two years later, I am quite grateful we did not give in, for two reasons. First of all, we were not obliged to cruelly deny Mormons and athiests the benefit of a support group; it also gave us a chance to share the One True Faith with them. Secondly, it gave our whole family several opportunities to explain why we could not join the "Christian" group, which never failed to bring about a discussion regarding Sola Scriptura.

If any readers happen to be in this very difficult situation, I encourage you strongly to stand firm, and hold to the traditions we have we
have received, both by word of mouth and by letter.
Emily
Via E-Mail

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