Please send your questions for publication to prudence@slate.com.

Dear Prudence,
I'm engaged to a wonderful man who has great parents, but recently his stepfather kissed me in a way that made me very uncomfortable. I come from a very loving and affectionate family where hugs and kisses are given all the time. But in this particular situation, when the stepfather kissed me his mouth was kind of open and his hand was in the middle of my back so I couldn't pull away, and it lasted too long. Needless to say, being around him now makes me uncomfortable. Am I overreacting? Should I say something? I don't know what to do.

—Confused

Dear Con,
You are not overreacting. The stepfather is a swine. When you are next at the same gathering, take him aside and say something along these lines: "I am going to do you a big favor. I am not going to say anything to anyone about your last try at an entirely inappropriate kiss. Should you decide to try that one again, I shall tell my fiancee, his father, and his mother—your wife." Do not be intimidated by his seniority or his future in-law status. You can also make it a point to stay as far from him as possible at family get-togethers. He has earned it.

—Prudie, sternly

Dear Prudence,
My husband and I, after a long time of careful thinking and talking, have decided to end our marriage with a no-fault dissolution. We've told our closest friends but haven't told our families yet. How do we go about telling them without being judged and preached to? We are Catholic. Is there any polite way to tell everyone that we are under enough stress already and would appreciate not being referred to counseling with parish priests? (What would a priest know about marriage and relationships, anyway?) We've already been through professional counseling, and there is no hope to save this marriage. Your advice would be greatly appreciated, as we're about to begin the paperwork.

—Ready To Talk

Dear Red,
The polite way to tell people is just what you wrote to Prudie: "We are under enough stress already and would appreciate not being referred to counseling with parish priests, since we've already been through professional counseling and there is no hope to save this marriage." Such a preamble to your kind of news is a strong statement that you are not up for any "discussion." If anyone persists, repeat your statement, or physically remove yourself from the room.

Just as an aside, there are priests who, in a pastoral capacity, do have useful words to offer couples in crisis ... just as a single therapist might. Prudie is not likening a clergyman to a heifer, but the old saw is true: You don't have to be a cow to know what milk is.

—Prudie, supportively