If I am Catholic...?

Question

and my partner is baptised in jehova witness religion can we still get married by catholic church with no complications? He doesn't attend to the jehova witness church but he is baptised.

Answer 1

--is Catholic--

Here is the straight stuff (no fuzzies):

Essentially you boyfriend would be marrying into the Catholic Faith. Mixed faith marriages can be tricky especially if one of the spouse is more into their faith than the other. Do not be surprised if the religious differences become more pronounced over time. It might not be important now, but after children enter into the picture and raising them Catholic becomes a reality, it can get rough. Contrary to popular opinion, raising your kids in dual faiths tends to create agnostics/atheists not more religious people. That is why the Church insists that her children be raised only Catholic.

Catholic Faith has some guidelines.

First Catholics are allowed to marry non-Christians. Jehova Witness are not Christians because they do not baptise in the name of the trinity. The Catholic Faith holds that baptism is what makes a person a Christian. There are also a lot of beliefs of JW's that are not Christian in nature.

In order to marry a non-Christian, you need to get the local bishop's permission for a mixed cult marriage. It is easy talk to your parish priest. I highly recommend that you and your boyfriend sit down and read the book of Ruth and the Song of Songs (Canticle of Canticles) right away. That will give you a basic scriptural understanding of how important marriage is and how the faith question is resolved.

Here is the basic list to get the ok to get the dispensation of cult.

1. Have to go through Catholic marriage prep.
2. Be willing to practice the Catholic understanding of marital relations (ie no condoms).
3. Be open to having children when God gives them to you.
4. Understand and accept that the marriage lasts until the death of the spouse (no divorcing and remarrying while the spouse lives).
5. Promise to not try to convert your spouse away from Catholicism.
6. Promise to not impede in any way your spouse's obligations to the Catholic Faith and the growth of their spiritual life.
7. Promise to have your children baptized Catholic within a few weeks of their birth.
8. Promise to raise your children in and ONLY IN the Catholic Faith.
9. Promise to not impede in any way your children's obligations to the Catholic Faith and the growth of their spiritual life.

There are other issues but the priest through marriage prep will deal with them.


A NOTE: If your local priest doesn't go through the above numbered steps during the marriage prep, he is not up on his duties and it would be benefitual to locate a better priest. At the time of marriage, not believing in those things brings into question the validity of the marriage especially if one, either openly or in secret intends to do directly the opposite.

Because your boy friend is not involved with JW, might I suggest that you consider teaching him about the Catholic faith? Marriage will be much more meaningful and fruitful if both of you are practicing the Catholic Faith.

Here are some easy places to look at.

http://www.scripturecatholic.com (scripture)
http://www.catholic.com (various common questions)

If you want something more advanced (but not by much) try
Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine by Shaw
Church History by Laux
The Founding of Christendom series by Carroll (easy and very entertaining history)

God bless and good luck with the marriage!

Answer 2

I think that the Catholic church prefers that you are both Catholic - I know that there are some religions that the Catholic church doesn't recognize (LDS) even if you've been baptized. I think that the parts of the mass can be celebrated or not celebrated just like any other catholic wedding, but your husband wouldn't be able to take communion. It also depends a lot on your Parish and how strict your priest is. Your future husband will also have to agree to raise any children resulting from the marriage as Catholic, so be prepared for that discussion. Good luck - that's a hard match, but if you love eachother, it should all work out.

Answer 3

First off, I in no way agree with the Catholic faith. I think that it is absurd, and filled with lies and hypocrisy. I say that because I married a man from a Catholic background. He no longer attended services of the Catholic church, and began attending and was baptized into Christ's church- the church of Christ. But we lived in strict Catholic country in northwestern Ohio, and the influences on a young Christian were very hard to ignore. Once he moved to get a divorce I contacted his ex-fiance. She informed me that since we did not have a "catholic ceremony", that the Catholic church wouldn't recongnize our marriage as valid? ABSURD! How in the world is it up to the Catholic church to authorize a marriage? It is not! It's up to God and his Word. Again, not that I agree with Catholicism whatsoever, but I suppose in your situation you should just ask someone of your own faith about your question. Then go from there.

Answer 4

Jehovah's Witnesses do not marry outside the faith. If they do, then most likely the marriage would not last or the person will slowly stop going to the Kingdom Hall. If a JW gets married they marry in the Kingdom Hall not any other church. Being Baptized does not mean they practice and their lives are around the religion. If he was a true Jehovah's Witness he would not be getting married to someone outside of his own faith. The Jehovah's Witnesses would NOT allow him to marry in the Kingdom Hall to someone who was not baptized as a JW. So, basically you would not be getting married in the KIngdom Hall.

Answer 5

Depends on every church. You need to call them and ask for an appt. with a priest and he will be able to tell you the requirements. Usually, they will ask him to attend a program so that he will undergo baptism, confirmation, penance and holy communion. But that program takes time (two years in some churches) and a lot of patience because they need to test his sincerity. You will need to sign up for weekly meetings and activities. My husband is agnostic and I am Catholic and we decided to just go for the civil wedding.

Answer 6

Only one of you have to be a baptized Catholic to be married in the Catholic Church.

There may ba a couple of small complications but nothing that cannot be overcome.

With love and prayers in Christ.

Answer 7

I think that he has to become Catholic first.

Answer 8

religion shouldnt matter when being united. God doesent judge how you choose to worship him.