Father-in-law expects that his future grandchildren will be raised Catholic

Dear Abby: My husband and I are trying to have children. He was raised Catholic, but is now agnostic. I’m also agnostic.

My deeply religious father-in-law insists that our future children be baptized Catholic. I’m against it because I think it should be a person’s right to choose which faith, if any, to follow when they are ready. I also think it would be hypocritical. My husband thinks it would be best to “keep the peace.” Which of us is right?

— Out in the Open

Dear Out: You are, but I don’t envy what’s ahead for you. If you knuckle under to your father-in-law, it won’t stop. You will be expected to follow through with a Catholic upbringing — first communion, Catholic schools, church attendance

“for the children” and everything that comes with it.

You and your husband should bite the bullet, be upfront with his dad before you become pregnant and make plain how you plan to raise your children. If you aren’t, raising them in a way you don’t want could put a strain on your marriage. This should be your and your husband’s decision to make and no one else’s, and I don’t recommend deviating from it.

Dear Abby: Five years ago, when my wife and I were 35 years old, she agreed to be on a team with me and compete in some “adventure races.” It was great fun. During one race a bull broke into the race grounds and chased us. Shortly thereafter, my wife quit the team. What should I do?

— Benched in Georgia

Dear Benched: Because this is an activity you enjoy, you should keep going. Because your wife has chosen to retire from adventure racing, you should recruit another partner or find some other activity you both could enjoy together. (And that’s no bull.)