Dating a non-Catholic?

Question

What are the Catholic Church's views on dating a non-Catholic? For casual dating?
How about a more serious relationship (marriage)?
Just curious, thanks.

No bashing please
God bless

Answer 1

I am Catholic and my husband is not. We make it work. I'll be perfectly honest with you, it's not always easy. I see people at church worshipping together as a couple and I wish I had that in my life and maybe someday, God willing, I will. I pray about it all the time. But we have a good marriage and we work hard to make it work.

Answer 2

There is nothing against it. It's not like it is frowned upon.
I have been to both weddings of two catholics, and weddings between a catholic and non-catholic and both were in a church. The only difference is, if your not both catholic you can't get a more religious ceremony meaning the priest isn't going to read quotes from the Bible and there won't be communion at your wedding, but that's it. And in a more religious wedding, it's a lot more boring because half the time the priest just reads quotes. But just because your both catholic doesn't mean you have to go this way.

love is love, one can't deny it in any form. And the church is all for true love. Even if the church was against it, I don't think it would stop true love anyways.

Answer 3

Mixed marriages are common the the Catholic Church. The non-Catholic party does NOT have to convert. The Catholic party has to state that the marriage is not an obstacle to his/her practice of the Catholic faith, and also state that he/she will do "everything possible" to raise the children of the marriage in the Catholic faith. The non-Catholic party does not have to promise anything, but must be made aware of the promises made by the Catholic party. As far as "casual dating", the Church has no position on who your friends are.

If either of the parties was previously married, that situation has to be addressed, and may or may not be an obstacle to marrying in the Church, depending on the circumstances of the previous marriage (not how it "worked out", but how it originally took place). The Catholic Church takes seriously the words of Christ, "what God has joined together no man must separate".

Answer 4

I think you can date people of any religion if you think they are good people to date. Obviously, you can fall deeply in love with people who aren't your religion. If you date someone, for example, and that turns into love and engagement and all of that, and this person is non-Catholic, if he is divorced, that could be an issue. He would need (I think) to follow the guidance and process from your Church. If he wouldn't want to, that's a problem for you, if you expect to remain a Catholic in good faith. You can marry a non-Catholic but I'd only suggest this: in marriage, love is not enough. Arguments over religion and finances will break up a relationship and marriage. You'd want to make sure a non-Catholic fiance' didn't bash your church if you wanted to raise your children in the Catholic faith. Imagine how hurtful and frustrating that would be for you. To me a rule of thumb with people is this: if people become argumentative about your religion, kick them to the curb. You don't have to defend what you believe. Ever. It is so much easier to find and date people with whom you share important beliefs. Make sense? Here's an example. I have a relative who is a strong Catholic who dated (briefly) a fellow who was nice..but an athiest. For a few dates, everything was peachy. He was handsome, had good morals, was polite and all of that. Then...he started preaching about how evil religion was and how was a "nice girl like that doing in an organized religion." Well, it didn't matter that he was handsome, nice, and even took her to nice restaurants. She was uncomfortable defending herself. That took care of that. When you are young, however, there's nothing wrong with dating lots of people to find out what you truly want, but in the end there are some things that can't be compromised. Only you would know what they are. God Bless you too.

Answer 5

Since that is what happened with me the answer is simple. They want you to pick among their own. However life is not that simple is it. I went to all of their classes and talked to a priest just so I could marry the girl of my dreams . I would walk on fire just to make that happen. I believe that if you both share the same belief in Jesus that is what is important. If he doesn't go to your church that is OK. However if you both found a church that you both would be comfortable in that would be better. Again focus on Jesus not the building. We have been married 31 years and I am glad we didn't let church law get in our way. God blessed us and he will bless you too.

Answer 6

I married my Catholic husband in the Catholic Church.
I eventually converted.

Answer 7

These days the catholic faith dont care too much as long as you are willing to still come to church and put money in the basket. The catholic faith are losing so many members who profess to be "catholic" who only step foot in a building for Christmas Mass and Easter - and thats a good year.

a better question is, are you seriously Catholic who attends weekly or is it more like a political affiliation where you forget to vote? If so - then does it really matter?

Answer 8

My parents could not marry in a catholic church because my mom is not catholic and she had a divorce on her record.

Answer 9

they aren't going to chastise you for dating a non-Catholic. when it comes to marriage however, it is a blessed sacrament, and so your fiancee must recognize and respect that. also, the children you may have must be brought up according to the Catholic faith, baptized, etc. conversion to Catholicism is a possiblitly as well...God Bless and good luck.

Answer 10

My brother (Lutheran) married a Catholic. A friend of mine that was not a catholic married a catholic. It happens.