Dilema with child and religion

[LAURIE]

I was married to a muslim guy for many years. I converted to the muslim religion. We have a 12 years old son. My son's father and I are no longer married. Being muslim, he was a great believer and was very deep into the muslim religion (extrict). However, he was living a double life for 3 years. Once I found out of his betrayal (with another woman), commiting adultery, even drinking and using drugs (however, he wouldn't eat pork, because it was "forbidden" in his religion), I divorced him. I'm ashamed to say that I converted to the muslim religion back then, for the wrong reasons. Few years ago, I couldn't bear the feeling of not going to my church and praying to God, the way I was taught. I guess, I went back to my all time religion..It was a great relief, a great feeling.
Now, my dilema is that according to the muslim religion, children should follow the muslim religion. My ex has never taken our son to the Mosque. Never has taken the time to even teach him how to pray "the muslim way".. In other words, my son has no knowledge of the muslim religion in general... My ex has forbidden me of taking our son to my church. I'm really concern because my son should know about religion at this age (even when he was younger).
I would like to have him baptize and and also I would make me very happy to take him to church every Sunday. I'm just affraid my ex will get a fit and take my son away. I just need some advise here.
I'm puerto rican, living in Florida. My ex is Lebanese also living in Florida. Our son was born in Puerto Rico.
I would appreciate any wise advise you can give me.
Thanks and God bless you all.....

Laurie

[El_Jibaro]

Originally posted by LAURIE
I was married to a muslim guy for many years. I converted to the muslim religion. We have a 12 years old son. My son's father and I are no longer married. Being muslim, he was a great believer and was very deep into the muslim religion (extrict). However, he was living a double life for 3 years. Once I found out of his betrayal (with another woman), commiting adultery, even drinking and using drugs (however, he wouldn't eat pork, because it was "forbidden" in his religion), I divorced him. I'm ashamed to say that I converted to the muslim religion back then, for the wrong reasons. Few years ago, I couldn't bear the feeling of not going to my church and praying to God, the way I was taught. I guess, I went back to my all time religion..It was a great relief, a great feeling.
Now, my dilema is that according to the muslim religion, children should follow the muslim religion. My ex has never taken our son to the Mosque. Never has taken the time to even teach him how to pray "the muslim way".. In other words, my son has no knowledge of the muslim religion in general... My ex has forbidden me of taking our son to my church. I'm really concern because my son should know about religion at this age (even when he was younger).
I would like to have him baptize and and also I would make me very happy to take him to church every Sunday. I'm just affraid my ex will get a fit and take my son away. I just need some advise here.
I'm puerto rican, living in Florida. My ex is Lebanese also living in Florida. Our son was born in Puerto Rico.
I would appreciate any wise advise you can give me.
Thanks and God bless you all.....

Laurie

Laurie:

Jesus said that "by their fruits you will know a false teaching from the TRUTH". It is sad it took you these many years to find out the fruits of Islam. But now you know. And it is good for your son know too.

The issue about training your son in your faith involves the Law one way or the other. First of all you may have to check your divorce papers as to whether you have sole custody or not, and what it entails. If the divorce papers clearly state that the child cannot be trained to any other religion but his dad's, then this closes the door for taking your son, a minor, to your church. If the papers do not forbid this, then go ahead and take him to your church, since you are in every way responsible to his entire upbringing, be it material, and/or spiritual.

It has happened frequently that these clowns from the Middle East, after doing the harm of destroying their marriages later on kidnap their own children. Since this may happen, whether you take your son to church or not, make sure that the Law is on your side to prevent him from doing this. For example: has your ex-husband threatened you in any manner as to this? If so this can be grounds for you to seek protection by the Child Welfare Agency in your state, whether it be by placing you in a protection system such as a home for battered women, or putting a restraining order on your ex. You have to be ahead of him on this, because in these matters these men usually have no compassion on the wives they divorce. Contact and talk to a Florida State Social Worker about this, he/she will know the best way to handle this matter. And PRAY, because to God nothing is impossible, particularly in protecting your family.

[LAURIE]

To EL_Jibaro:

First of all, thank you so much for your advise.
I have sole physical custody of my son. My ex and I share legal custody. There is no stipulation on my divorce papers about religion. However, my ex has always forbidden me of taking our son to my church (I'm Catholic). I haven't been at church in many years, because my son is always with me and my ex rarely takes him for the weekend. I feel really sad, because I feel I need to be close to God, in every aspect and I would like that my son share this with me. You see, my son knows about God. He has no knowledge of anything else. It is time for him to learn every aspect of religion. I have spoken with my ex about this, I always been concern about this. However, my ex tells me that he will start taking our son to the Mosque soon. It's been the same story for the last 5-7 years, and that day never come (not that I want to see that day to come soon). I prefer that my son grow up with the values of the Catholic religion. I don;t know if I should start taking my son to a catholic church behind my ex's back. After all, I can't hid this for too long. My ex has never threaten me to take my son away from me,but with all the changes I have seen in him (drinking, cheating etc,)I don't trust him. It is so sad that some people uses their religion for their own
convenience.
Thanks for listening and God bless.....
Laurie