Your Advice, please

[cobguy]

Andy ... you're a good man to even contemplate this action.
Whether it's for your own closure or to make amends with family is irrelevant.
“Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.”
― Khalil Gibran
Please do let us know how it works out and best wishes to you both.
BTW ... I would treat a Pagan or tax collector with the same respect and consideration given to any Christian.

"Love Thy Brother" and "Do Unto Others" is directed at ALL Mankind without stipulation.

 

[gregprince]

You are responsible for your behavior, not his. Do the right thing. To do good to those who are nice is a nice thing to do, to do good to those who persecute you is the Christian thing to do.

 

[zitotczito]

My brother and sister-in-law went through a bitter divorce when my nephew was 10 years old. From that point she treated my nephew with complete contempt, refused to be in his life and this lasted for 20 some years. My nephew was so hurt by this that he refused to have any contact or acknowledge his mothers attempts at contact the last few years and in honesty I did not blame him. Last year she was diagnosed with an aggressive and terminal cancer.
I sat my nephew down and explained that he should not go through life with any resentments if they can be dealt with, and they should be if at all possible. I urged him to reach out to her regardless of how he felt and that I would not think less of him if he chose not to. He did after much thought make the contact. They sat down as mother and son and were able to put aside the past and she passed a little happier and he is able to accept the past and move on with no regrets.
Your contact may not work out, but it may. Don't dwell on what happened, look to the future, it may well end better than you could ever hope and you can move forward with a clear heart and mind, knowing that no matter how the contact turns out, you will be a better person for it.

 

[wilson]

Make the gesture. It may work out, it may not. Either way, you will feel at peace. I have a good friend who is a judge. He hears a lot of divorce and family matters. His constant comment to me about the cases he hears is that someone (usually him) needs to step up and be the grown-up. Be the grown-up.

 

[andystewart]

Thanks again guys for the excellent advice and @smorgdonkey thanks for checking back.
Andy