Dear Danielle,

It is very sad that your friend was discouraged from the vocation by his parents. This happens all too often, and sometimes the parents do it with the best of intentions, but it is nevertheless a mistake. One thing is to encourage a young man to consider well the step he wants to take, to test him a little to make sure it is a mature decision or to make sure he faces up to his weaknesses or something he may be running away from, for example, and quite another to discourage the thought of the priesthood - sometimes using some pretty heavy emotional blackmail in the process.

I don't see anything wrong with respectfully calling the parents on something like that, it may be a great favor you are doing them and their son. But keep in mind that there are good ways and not-so-good ways of doing something good. You have to know whom you are dealing with as well, since the motives behind such opposition can be many and varied, from their own struggles with the faith, to prejudice against the priesthood, to skewed ideas about the particular seminary their son wants to join, to mention a few examples.  

Similarly, I would see nothing wrong in making a suggestion to your friend if he is still at an age and in a situation in which the priesthood is still an option. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and you may be just the instrument God is looking for to speak to his soul.

God bless.