Wiccans and other pagans, is Margo's advice sound?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/dear_margo/20070104/en_dm/margo_howard20070104

Good advice? Bad advice? What would you have replied?

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Answer 1

I think that's pretty good advice.
I see her point. My kid and my immediate family and friends know that I am a pagan but I didn't tell my grandma and the like because they would just be confused.
I just don't see the point announcing it to the world. I'm not trying to convert anyone so what would be the point?
Peace )O(

Answer 2

"The sin of omission," is one thing but allowing your future in-laws to believe that Margo's mother is still a Catholic? I think that's taking it too far because it is an out and out lie. It would also be highly obvious that the mother was not Catholic at the wedding ceremony. No dipping the hand in holy water and making the sign of the cross across your chest? No kneeling at the appointed time? No taking of the host at mass? And if the mother bent to the point where she did these things, she is lost along with the relationship.

I would have replied differently. Margo is pregnant, is unable to accept her mother's Wiccan faith, is so uncomfortable with it that she has asked her mother to kept it quite, and she feels embarrassed and humiliated by it. Given these circumstances, there really is no effective "middle ground." The only way to make this work, is complete honesty on the part of Margo, no matter where the chips may fall.

I would advise Margo to tell her future in-laws that her mother changed her religious beliefs to Wicca. Even though that has taken place, Margo should also relate that her Catholic faith has not wavered. She is still an acceptable bride and mother to her Costa Rica family. And speaking of such stuff...

Isn't the fact that she is pregnant "before" marriage, having the pot calling the kettle "black" given her Catholic beliefs? Is there not a hint of hypocrisy here?

Answer 3

I would have liked to see her scold the "good Catholic" for being pregnant and unmarried. It doesn't sound to me at all like she has taken any time to learn about her mother's path, and indeed she should be deeply ashamed of herself.

I do think that telling her she should inform her fiance of her mother's conversion is sound advice. It's very possible that the man will leave her because her mother has been erroneously labeled a Devil worshipper by people who are too close-minded to even entertain the idea that the Devil can't influence those who don't believe in it/him, and it is much better for the engaged pregnant good Catholic to find out now that her fiance will not support her than after they have three more children together.

Blessed be.
)O(

Answer 4

Good advice. Wiccans are usually secretive anyway. We don't go blasting our beliefs from the rooftops like Christians do because of the article writers exact reaction. Everyone doesn't need to know everything.

Its the same reason why most of my family doesn't know I'm Wiccan. They don't need to know.

Answer 5

She's cool, remarkable in Her good sense and sound advice. That Step Dad is a goof!! I live in New Jersey right now and I've meet so many A Holes like that; I don't get it!

Answer 6

Good advice - saying Wiccans are devil worshippers shows immense ignorance, why does everyone need to be the same religion anyway? Part of most religions is tolerance.

Answer 7

I think overall her advice was good; however, I think that if the mother actually was trying for conversion, she needs to put a stop to it.

OTOH, as terrified as the person writing in seemed, I'm betting she was overreacting to her mother just trying to explain things.

Answer 8

Score one for Margo!

I'm thrilled!

I'd have told her to grow up, personally.

Answer 9

I would have told the girl to grow up and respect her mother and quit trying to lie to her inlaws.
What sort of moral compass guides her anyway that she thinks she thinks she has the right to lie and try to force others to lie.

Answer 10

The girl did good--an excellent advisor