Woman fears repercussions of conversion to Judaism

Dear Annie: I’m 20 and attending college near my parents’ home. Despite what my Catholic family wants, I’ve been exploring other religions for five years and have decided Judaism is the right road for me. I want to let my family in on this process, but I’m afraid they’ll react badly and insist that my Jewish fiance is swaying my decision.

My mother is starting to pick up on the fact I haven’t been going to church with her. She’s informed me that she’d be insulted if I became Jewish, because all those years of putting me through Catholic school would be for naught. She recently hoped out loud that eventually I’d “do the right thing and come back.” I’m tired of lying when they ask where I go on Friday evenings. Help?

At the Crossroads

Dear Crossroads: There is some validity to the claim that your fiance may be influencing your decision, but that is to be expected. Even if he isn’t making a concerted effort to convert you, his preferences and beliefs would be persuasive.

We respect the fact that you’ve spent five years considering your decision, which indicates a great deal of thinking. Please stop lying to your parents. If this is the path you’ve chosen, you must stand up for your beliefs in the face of their disappointment. The sooner you start the more time they’ll have to reconcile

themselves to the situation.

Dear Annie: “Upstate N.Y. Dad” said that the babysitter took his children on an unauthorized drive to the ice cream store. I agree she was irresponsible, but your response that the girl “showed terrible judgment, but that is not unusual for a 17-year-old” was a slap in the face for teenagers like me.

Many teenagers do wonderful, responsible things in their community. I organize a program in which musicians from my school go to various retirement centres and play for the elderly. I tutor every Wednesday. I also bring home straight A’s. That girl wasn’t irresponsible because she was 17. She’s irresponsible because she was raised by a parent with no dignity or honesty.

A Disappointed 15-Year-old Girl

Dear Disappointed: Brava. We did not mean to give the impression that all teenagers are irresponsible — only that the maturity to properly judge a situation takes time to develop. Obviously, you are already there. Thanks for sticking up for your peers. Email questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Visit www.creators.com to find out more about Annie’s Mailbox