Thanks for posting, ST. The only way to win is by not playing the game.
So childish - it reminds me of elementary school, where one friend would say "I'm not going to be your friend if you stay friends with so-and-so." I always chose the one who wasn't making the unreasonable demands.
Same thing happened with X-friend (my disconnected scientologist friend) once I was an adult. He made the same demand, and I let him go instead. I never regretted it for one minute.
Personal integrity matters more than family or friends. To me, that is; others may feel differently and they're free to feel that way.