Dear Pastor,

I am 20 and a Christian. I come from a Christian home. I have a boyfriend, but he did time in prison. He is now a member of the church I attend. Nobody at the church knew he had gone to prison. He attended a crusade at my church and after that he got baptised. Then we became friends.

One night he was giving his testimony and he mentioned that he had served time in prison. People in the church were surprised. My parents were there. And when we got home, my father came into my room and said, "Daughter, I love you and I like your boyfriend, but don't get married to him because he is a convicted criminal." For the whole night I could not sleep.

I called my boyfriend and told him that I wanted to see him the following day. When we met, I asked him why he had to tell the world that he went to prison. I also told him what my father said. He told me that what happened to him was in the past, but he is not living that type of life now. He told me that if I love him, I would not listen to my father. My father explained certain things to me that I didn't know. So I am afraid to disobey my father. My mother also warns me not to marry a jail bud.

Please, give me your fatherly advice.

H.N., St. Catherine

Dear H.N.,

I am sure that your parents know that a person who is truly converted should not be considered a criminal in the eye of God. That, however, doesn't expunge all criminal records according to the laws of the land.

So, although his criminal record might have been forgiven by the Higher power, your parents are afraid that you would be looked on as a simple and desperate person for marrying a man who carries around with him a blot on his character. And certain persons in society would never accept him and may even embarrass you because of him.

In the eyes of your father, you are always daddy's little girl. And although you may remind him that you are no more his little girl, that will not prevent him from wanting you to have the very best. The decision as to whether you should marry this man is strictly yours.

This young man might have paid his debt to society, but your parents will never accept him in the family.

Pastor