Should a Catholic and a Baptist date?

Question

I am a Catholic who is very involved with my church and wants to be married in my church, to raise my kids in the Church, etc. I am friends with a guy who is very commited Baptist. He is not so strict that he doesn't dance or go to movies, but he does not drink or smoke and is fairly conservative and I know that he would never convert to Catholicism, just as I would never leave the Catholic Church. I can respect his religion, and he respects mine. But, before I start anything I am trying to figure out if it's even worth the time and emotion and effort if this could never be a longterm thing because of issues with religion. Has anyone else ever had this sitatuion, and how did you resolve it successfully?

Answer 1

I married a woman who was raised Catholic. I was raised Baptist. We got married at a Baha'i temple. We are both non-Christians now. My best friend was raised Catholic and he married a woman who was brought up in an Eastern Orthodox family. They did not marry in a church. Now they have a daughter, still a baby, and they are arguing about whether or not to send her to a Catholic school.
Your church will allow you to marry a non-Catholic if: he goes through catechism and you agree to raise any children you might have as Catholics.
His church will allow you to marry as long as you are ready to make a commitment to one another. They will not ask you to give up being Catholic. Your own church might disown you for marrying outside your faith.
You aren't talking about marriage, only about dating and whether you could develop a proper relationship. You can. But your church will not help you.
That, my dear, is the decision to be made by you and your sweetheart: to love a person or to allow religion to stop you from loving a person. IF (big IF) you take your relationship further, I recommend that you talk with one another about whether you will have children and how to raise your children before you come to a point later where you will not be able to agree.

Answer 2

I am a Catholic. As you're already doubtless aware, there are some very serious theological differences between Baptists and Catholics. However, there are many cases of interfaith marriages working out. If they don't work out, the trouble usually arises when it comes to the question of children. You're not at that point yet, but when it arises, there can be problems. Most of the interfaith relationships I personally know of that broke up did so because the couple couldn't agree on how to raise the children.

Answer 3

Pastor Billy says , well this is a tough one on one hand I understand what true love can bring with the right person on the other hand try to remember you are entering into a relationship of families as well. Many times in these situations it isn't just the other person you have to weight in on but his family as well. I recently had to end a relationship with a baptist friend because he insisted the Catholic Church was not "Christ-centred'. So might be entering into a beautiful relationship with the added bonus of him discovering the truth about Catholicism with your guidance or you might be entering into a heep of heartache.

You really need to get out of him his views on the Church and especially those of his family. Many times they keep them secret especially if they are in the evangelical mindset not wanting to enter into any debate with you. Does he drop little hints or criticism of Catholic worship and practise? Does he quote a lot of bible-text as proof? (they do that and usually out of context when trying to disprove Catholic)

Answer 4

Why not. You don't have to get married right away- just go on couple friendly dates and see how things go. Not every relationship needs to end in marriage and children to be good, and you can take things as they come.
My husband used to be very religious, and I was raised Jewish (more culturally than religiously though, I've always leaned towards agnosticim). He said he could never date a non-Christian, but things worked out- I tolerate that he goes to church once in a while, as long as he tolerates what I do in my free time. Of course, my case is very different than yours, but I don't see why it wouldn't work, as long as religion is not the main focus of your life.

Answer 5

Well its not a sin but it would make things very difficult for both of you. You would always have different opinions and different beliefs. And if things got real serious between both of you and you wanted to get married then he would have to agree to be married in your church and raise any children that you have as Catholics or you would be commiting a serious sin. If I were you I wouldn't worry with it unless you really think that you could convert him or that he wouldn't have any problems with your Catholic ways.

Answer 6

My Baptist niece married a Catholic man and they now have a beautiful little daughter and seem very happy. I believe that they are in the Catholic church.
do you realize that there will be no Catholics in heaven? Nor will there be any Baptists in Heaven. Only begotton sons and daughters of God will be there.

Answer 7

Sure, why not. If he can stand you because usually Baptists hate Catholics. I don't know why because Christ is not divided and if they are baptized into Christ then it is like a foot hating an arm. Doesn't make sense.

Answer 8

I think it would work, as long as your religion wasn't the main focus of your relationship. But you both sound like fine people, and I don't see why it wouldn't work out, as long as you put energy into it.

Answer 9

No, because you will never agree on anything doctrine wise and this will cause trouble in marriage and child rearing. Its best to date and marry someone who shares your beliefs.

Answer 10

So you are going to let silly little denominational differences rule your life and future happiness?

And people ask me what I have against religion.