Bringing you the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His Church While PROMOTING CATHOLIC Apologetic Support groups loyal to the Holy Father and Church's magisterium
Home About
AskACatholic.com		 What's New? Resources The Church Family Life Mass and
Adoration		 Ask A Catholic
Knowledge base
AskACatholic Disclaimer
Search the
AskACatholic Database
Donate and
Support our work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
New Questions
Cool Catholic Videos
About Saints
Disciplines and Practices for distinct Church seasons
Purgatory and Indulgences
About the Holy Mass
About Mary
Searching and Confused
Contemplating becoming a Catholic or Coming home
Homosexual and Gender Issues
Life, Dating, and Family
No Salvation Outside the Church
Sacred Scripture
back
non-Catholic Cults
Justification and Salvation
The Pope and Papacy
The Sacraments
Relationships and Marriage situations
Specific people, organizations and events
Doctrine and Teachings
Specific Practices
Church Internals
Church History

Juan Mendez wrote:

Hi, guys —

The ten Commandments state honor your parents for God will bless the child. (Sirach 3:5-9)

That said, I'm an adult, married with my in-laws.

  • How does this work with honoring the in-laws?

Israel left his father-in-law who was taking advantage of him and changing the contract to marry the women he loved and fooled Israel in marrying his oldest daughter.

Tobit asked to be released from the company of his in-laws so he can go home to his parents.
(Tobit 10-11) Another Bible verse (Genesis 2:24) states a husband leaves his parents and clings to his wife, but does not mention that he needs to cling to her family. A good wife is a blessing from God but does not mention the in-laws . . . a bad wife is like cancer in his bones. etc, etc.

To put it nicely, In-laws are making my life difficult.

  • Am I dishonoring God's law by staying away from thorns in one's life . . .  as in cancer in one's bones?

Juan Mendez
  { A Bible verse says a husband leaves his parents and clings to his wife, but what about her in-laws? }

Eric replied:

Hi, Juan —

Your local priest is a better person to discuss this with.

There are certainly situations that call for limiting contact, and adult obligations are different from obligations as a child, but keep in mind that your wife needs to honor her parents (even if you have issues with them), and part of that is making sure they are taken care of in their old age, so keep that in mind.

Hope this helps,

Eric
Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
© 2012 Panoramic Sites
The Early Church Fathers Church Fathers on the Primacy of Peter. The Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church and the term Catholic. The Early Church Fathers on the importance of the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.