self importance
            QUESTION from Lynne on August 9, 2003

I've written before about questions I've had regarding my Mother-in law and difficulties we've had with her beliefs (non Catholic) and her influence on our children. We've made sure that the kids have been removed from her influence but it is becoming increasingly difficult to have any type of relationship with her. She is still following certain televangelists from town to town, she believes she is a prophet and newest problem is that she feels she converts everyone she speaks with to Christ. She is doing the converting, not God. Although she will say God put the right words in her mouth. She doesn't see the glazed look that comes over most people when she "talks" to them. There is no gentleness to her. If you disagree with her, you must be posessed by the devil. She can be hateful and mean spirited if you don't acknowledge her "gifts" which automatically makes me questions the validity of her claims. She thinks she can exorcise demons and such. We've been praying non stop for her, my poor husband is beside himself with concern. She has no interest in learning anything about any Christian religion that would cause her to do more work than scratch the theological suface. We are leaving this problem to God but wonder if HE wants us to be more confrontational with her. I know you don't have a phoneline to God :>) but are there any general Catholic guidelines to follow in a situation like this?