In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Fallen Away Family Members – The Inner Life – May 27, 2025

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

Fr. Bobby Blood joins Patrick to discuss Fallen Away Family Members

  • How is Faith a gift from God?
  • What is the role of the community in staying in the faith?
  • (19:11) Vicki – My siblings…most away from faith. I have a cousin who might want to come back. She goes to Mass, receives communion, and realizes she shouldn’t do that. Siblings aren’t talking to me. What can I do to help bring my siblings back?

(19:11) Break 1

  • Mary – Fallen away member (daughter). Married a wonderful Christian. Said to my daughter he would do whatever she wanted. Moved around the country and has now gone to a Christian church. His mother was a fallen away Catholic. I can’t say anything critical, but I want to bring them back. I think if she came back he would follow her.
  • What are mistakes when trying to bring family back to the faith?
  • (28:50) Patrick shares an email about the need for reflection in discerning what they did wrong in raising their kids
  • Sue – I have a 30-year-old daughter and 27-year-old son. They don’t believe in God. They were raised Catholic, Catholic school, etc. Wondering how to bring them back. We went through a divorce. I think they’re dealing with a lot of hurt from it.
  • (35:33) Patty – My question is…I have 2 nephews who are young adults. Sister has allowed them not to go to church, but they live in her house. Want to reach out and bring them back to church. My sister is blocking me from doing that, and I don’t know what to do.

(39:07) Break 2

  • (41:14) David – 2 children and my wife have left the church. All different situations. Daughter, 18, graduated last week and is a lesbian. Son, 23, he’s into heavy metal. Wife, I think, is just laziness. There were a lot of changes in our parish and I think they didn’t like it. I reminded them we’re not here to worship you, we’re here to worship God. Want to bring them back.
  • (46:54) Carl – I encouraged my sisters to download the RR app to bring them back to the church. Shared something from Drew and she was impressed what she heard. What she did since then, I don’t know, but she has the app and now has the opportunity to listen.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.