Can a Catholic marry a Christian?

Question

I am an Irish Catholic and my girl friend of the last 7 years is a serious American Christian.

Next summer I plan on moveing my whole life from Ireland to America to be with her. I will be converting from Catholic to Christian as well. I've done all the work that goes along with converting to become a Christian and it is something I want to do but I have read that REAL Christians still only want to marry REAL Christians not born again Christians. I haven't talked to her about it yet but she does know that it worries me.

I REALLY love this girl and she knows I would never stand in the way of her faith and I REALLY want to ask her to marry me but I'm afraid because I have a feeling I know what the answer might be.

I just want to know what other peoples views on the hole subject are before I talk to her about it.

Any answers would be greatly apresheated.

Thanks

Answer 1

This can make a marriage more difficult, especially if both of you are serious about your beliefs. But there are MANY successful interfaith marriages.
You both need to be honest & open with each other about what you believe. If you can't make head-way, a little counselling will ease your minds & teach you a great deal.

Here is a guideline of some of the topics you need to discuss before marriage.

• Marriage expectations
• Personality issues
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Financial Management

• Leisure Activities
• Sexual Relationship
• Children and Parenting
• Family and Friends
• Role Relationship
• Spiritual Beliefs
• Couple Closeness
• Family Closeness
• Couple Flexibility
• Family Flexibility

Answer 2

What's with all these stupid Catholics that don't know they're Christian. Dude, I'm ATHEIST and even I know you're Christian. Why don't you learn your so called faith and then decide if/how you want to live it.

If your gf is a "serious" American Christian (whatever that's supposed to mean) then she ought to have a name for her denomination too and you should probably find out what it is. As a Catholic you would not be considered "born again" unless you just wanted to be or possibly if you were converting into a Catholic-hating church. You were already Baptized and raised Christian. You're just doing the same silly pointless crap you've always done in another church. However I know there are a lot of Catholic-hating churches here so they may ask you to denounce the Catholic church in some way before accepting you but there is at least a 50% chance they don't even give a rat's ***. Most churches are just like the Catholic one, they just want your money.

IMO you should wait till after you get married to convert because Catholics got the prettiest churches to get married in. She doesn't have to be Catholic as long as you are to have the wedding in a Catholic church. Then after, don't go to church anymore and tell everybody how religious you are and you'll be a real American Christian.

Answer 3

Catholics are Christians. Is she Catholic? Or is she Baptist, Presbyterian?
Some people use the word Christian to say you are "born again".
Some people use the word Christian to say you are part of the many churches and religions that believe in Jesus Christ. Depends on the context.

Catholic is Catholic, whether Roman or Irish, etc. If you listen to the Pope or Vatican, you're Catholic.

The Vatican/The Catholic Church has certain rules of order to be a Catholic for example, the church has a problem with getting married in a Catholic church (and still being a Catholic) if you've been married and divorced before. The church also has restrictions of who you can marry depending on what religion the other person is. The Catholic Church does not allow marrying a Muslim, for example.
If y'all have questions, speak to your priest.

Answer 4

1. Catholics are Christian.
Christian-> there are a couple of different branches (and sects within them) so to speak:
-Catholic:Roman, Orthodox, Russian Orthodox (there are lots)
-Protestant: Baptist, United, Anglican, Presbryterian (lots here too)

2. What is a "REAL Christian" anyway? Do you mean born into it? Personally a real Christian is someone who does what God commanded "Love with your whole heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength"(Mark 12:30,33)...And if your born-again Christian, that means you CHOSE to believe in and love God, not that you were brought up being told what to believe. How can it get any more real than that? (but that is just personally, I would never tell someone that they were not a real Christian, who am I to judge, I do not know their heart, and their love for God)

3. If she has stayed with you for 7 years, she loves you man! Let her know how important her faith is to you and how important honoring her faith is to you.

4. You don't have to change a thing. You may be changing the sect of your religion, which means minor rituals (confession etc...)will change...not your faith. If you share a love for God with your significant other, how can she refuse to marry you on the grounds of your faith? Isn't the commandment in Mark 12:30,33 what every Christian sect stresses?

Hope this helps! God bless.

Answer 5

Don't you know that Catholics are Christians? Hello? If your girlfriend is a Protestant christian you may be concerned. Protestant traditions and beliefs are very different from Catholicism, however there are many types of "American Christians" that worship in much the same way as Catholics. For example, Methodist, Anglican and Presbyterian Churches have priest. I think you need to do a little more homework about what type of "Christian" your girlfriend is. You obviously have only limited knowledge of religion. If you educate yourself, and then still feel committed to changing your faith then do it because you want to not to please your girlfriend. P.S. I'm a Protestant christian and I'm married to a Muslim. We're both strong in our own faiths but we respect each others.

Answer 6

I think anyone can mary anyone regardless of religion. Love knows no religeion. She knows what religion you are, if she was concerned and only wanted someone the same religion as her I dont think your relationship would have lasted 7 years.

Your religion may be the one that forbids marying anyone that is not your religion, but American Christians; it doesnt matter (that I am aware of) I am a christian and I am involved with a Jewish guy (for about 3 weeks) and he is the one caught between what to do. I dont care one way or the other. As long as you beleive in GOD the allmighty and obey the great 10-- you'll make it to heaven. (my veiw)

Answer 7

First of all, Catholics are Christians. You may marry in the Catholic church, assuming that your fiancee agrees to go to Pre-Cana classes and also agrees to raise your children in the Catholic faith. You can certainly marry into other Christian denominations (there really is no such thing as American Christian), however, it will not be recognized as a valid marriage by the Catholic church. I, myself, was raised Catholic, my husband was raised Episcopalian. We were married in a Presbyterian Church, and are now members of the Methodist Church...We're all Christians and the God we worship is one and the same! :) Hope that helps!

Answer 8

as long as your evenley yoked there should not be a problem.. I was in the same situation.. I was catholic and turn christian for my man.. If your on the same path to finding the lord there is no wrong religion. Born again christians are no different then 100% ones.. there is no such thing.. How do you think christians became tht way... they werent born like tht. they just said they believe Christ died for our sins and he rose 3 days later.

Answer 9

You've got it all wrong. Real Christians are born again christians. Looks like you are converting just to please her or have her. If she is born again I wonder how much she'd be impressed by your apparent shift in faith for her.

I bet, (if she is born again && seriously interested in you) she would have let you know by now her faith and how much she wants you to believe in what she believes.

Maybe she feels that you want just her and not her faith and thats why she has not made the move yet.

All the best.

Answer 10

Don't be so hung up on religion. Look around the world at all the wars being fought and people being killed over differences in religion, skin color, politics, yaddah. Join your fellow humans who have grown up and take a broader view. God is God and the worship of him takes many forms. Any negative form I abhor. Allow the differences in others and ask that they do the same for you. Good luck.