Dear Dr. Meg

I am a practicing Catholic, and my almost 19-year-old daughter used to be strong in her faith. She is bright and talented and in first year university. She is currently on an organ scholarship and plays for our parish church. All in all the relationship is not disastrous, but definitely strained, given that she now dates a non-practicing Muslim and I am concerned for her future relationship with this man, if he does start practicing – the difference in their faiths, etc.

She used to be so very much engaged in family life but I fear that our several past fights have caused her to become more and more distant – she seeks the company of her friends and her ever-present cell-phone more so than her family (she has 5 siblings, all younger, who are still fervent in their faith but who feel the impact of the strained relationship in the family).

My general question is – what advice might you have for me in trying to mend this relationship? She has not been to confession in a long time, I am just praying that she goes… I feel also that the relationships between my wife and myself…