Do I have to honor an abusive father or mother?

Description

Does the Fourth Commandment require a Catholic to remain close to an abusive parent? No. Catholics are commanded to honor their father and mother, but honoring a parent does not mean accepting abuse, enabling sinful behavior, or obeying commands that violate God's law. In some situations, genuine charity and prudence require boundaries, distance, or seeking protection and justice. Forgiveness also does not mean pretending nothing happened or automatically restoring a harmful relationship to what it was before. As parents grow older, adult children retain responsibilities toward them according to their circumstances and abilities. But a married person's spouse and children also carry serious responsibilities that cannot simply be ignored. Catholic morality requires both honor and prudence. You can forgive while maintaining boundaries. You can pray for someone while refusing to enable them. And you can honor your parents without participating in abuse or sin. Subscribe to Catholic Voices and Prayers for daily Catholic truth, traditional devotions, and clear answers about family, morality, and the Catholic Faith.