Why would a Catholic go to hell for getting married in Lutheran church?

Question

Hello. I was raised catholic but do not go to church, I have my own personal relationship with God and I have never found any organized religion satisfying personally. I am considering getting married in the Lutheran church with my Lutheran fiance, so we can wed in an outdoor setting (catholics cannot wed outdoors). My extremely devote catholic mother is going to have a fit about this, but I just do not see the problem! Lutherans and Catholics worship the same God, the same Jesus Christ. The religions are so identical but yet I know my mother will look at me as if I am damned if I do not wed in the catholic church. Why is this!? Its not like Im getting married by a witch doctor or something, right!?
I just dont see the reason for the rivalry between such similar faiths... lutheran, catholic whatever, its the same god! Why is it such an issue? Make me understand!!

Answer 1

Aww honey.

So many people are chased away from various denominations by fanatics. I'm so sorry for you. She's in earnest because she loves you.

You should know canon 1118 does NOT forbid Catholics to wed outside. You may find your diocese allows it. Most don't in order to foster the sacredness of your marriage vows. Or, you may be allowed dispensation.

You can get married in an outdoor wedding or a Lutheran Church at the hands of a Lutheran minister but it is considered invalid in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

Which shouldn't matter to you if you are no longer Catholic.

If it matters that much to your mother, then allow her arrange a blessing for you after the marriage in HER church. This should satisfy her.

Please understand, Catholics sufferred and died at the hands of Martin Luther's reformation. She may be all too familiar with it, while many are not...

Answer 2

Not being a Roman Catholic, I don't think I can help you understand. Although these days the differences between the Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church are so slight, I don't see what your mother's problem is. I don't think any Roman Catholic priest would say you are going to hell for getting married in a Lutheran Church. All things being equal I don't see why she is so upset. That being said as an Eastern Orthodox Christian I would not marry outside my Church for various reasons though fear of hell isn't necessarily one of them. You should probably discuss it with a Catholic priest and perhaps you can have a Catholic priest bless your marriage in a Catholic Church after you've had the Lutheran ceremony if you intend to raise your children as Roman Catholics. Honestly though I cannot imagine any Roman Catholic priest taking as hard line a position as your mother. Of course if she is so devout, she should have raised you in a such a way that you would want to remain Roman Catholic.

Answer 3

Your mother is crazy. I'm Catholic and the church is okay with Catholics marrying outside the Church and recognizes the marriage as valid. Don't worry about going to hell, is not a sin. Whether you get married in a Lutheran or Episcopelian church, the Catholic church will still recognize and not condemn you. The only one that has a problem with this is your mother.

Answer 4

God performed the first wedding Adam and Eve... Where was the Catholic Church then? Where was a building called a church of any denomination then?

Don't follow religions... Follow God... How do you follow God? Read His word... If it is contrary to the word of God, it's either cultural or it's sin. If it is directly in the word of God, you have your answer.

Marry outside, Marry inside... Doesn't matter, if you mother has a hissy fit... Guess what? that's HER problem, not yours. If you can find in the Bible where the exact requirements for a wedding are, then you have some room to debate. Otherwise it is probably a cultural thing.

Answer 5

Here are resources from Catholics discussing this. Some (especially the last one) speak supportively of "inter-faith" marriages from a Catholic point of view; other suggest that Catholics married by a non Catholic Christian minister or non minister are not considered validly married in the Church; this might be what worries your mother. If you WANT to explore your religious heritage on this issue, I suggest you and your fiance meet with a Catholic priest in your area and talk about it; let them know when you make the appointment what you want to talk about, because unless this is their specialty, they might want to look up rules, etc. Apparently, actual practices and interpretations of Canon 1118 vary somewhat by diocese and maybe by parish. Certainly, it does NOT say Catholics go to hell for getting married outside of a Catholic Church, or for marrying a non Catholic. A priest might also help in preparing you to talk compassionately with your mother(s).
I do hope you and your fiance have talked about how you feel about religious issues; the ceremony itself; raising children; handling in-laws; etc. :) These are issues which will allow you to explore and develop the relationship and values you affirm by joining yourselves in wedlock. It will be your wedding, your marriage - but both occur in context of your lives, your families, your other relationships. :) Best wishes!
Internet Resources:

Answer 6

well i was Catholic also but i found out there is no firey burning hell in which you are torrmented over an over.hell is the same a hadies or Sheol which is only the common grave of man ,the cemetery.that was a relief to fine that out.the Catholic priest kept telling me i am going to hell if i don't do this or that .did you ever here that knowledge leads to life well i keep seeking it an its being open to me,it not like the movie tom cruise played in eyes wide close,my eyes are now open.search and you will fine knock and it will be open.and sometime when they knock you should open the door an listen,it important.

Answer 7

Your question/comment gives the indication that you really have not thought about being catholic even if you say you were raised as one. Have you thought about all others not catholics all going to hell? Religions and politics are one and the same with same agenda to control the people and have the people provide for their existence.

Answer 8

You wouldn't go to hell... catholics just believe your in sin since Lutheranism is a fallen away church and not part of the church and body of Christ which he formed himself. They believe your church isn't authentic and would be adultery.

Answer 9

Dear snaily,

The reason that people go to hell is because they have broken God's law, which is called sin. The Bible states, "The wages of sin is death." The "death" referred to here is not physical death because every person will eventually die because the physsical body wears out. The "death" spoken of in this verse is eternal damnation.

The Lord is absolutely just and righteous so that He cannot allow a sinner to enter into heaven if their sins are not paid for. This is a great problem because eternity is forever. I am sure that you know that all of us have committed more than 1 sin in our lifetime, so we have this terrible penalty to pay. Since there is no time in hell, after a person spends 1 million years in hell, they still have eternity (forever) still to come.

The Lord in His great mercy and lovingkindness provided a salvation plan to redeem some of these condemned sinners to have with Himself. The Lord chose some of these sinners to save before the world was even created (Ephesians 1:3-5). However, the sin debt of these individuals still had to be paid. Jesus Christ made the atonement for His sheep when He came to the earth as a man. He lived a perfect life (no sin). The payment began when He entered the Garden of Gethsemanae and began to throw Himself to the ground with loud cries. His sweat became as great drops of blood. Then He was taken to a mock trial by the religious leaders and condemned to death by the city official who was afraid of an uprising. You must understand that all the physical suffering that Jesus endured did not pay for one sin. The fact is that Jesus was enduring the equivalent of spending eternity in hell but this was God the Father pouring the wrath of God on the Lord Jesus. That is why we see Him crying in the Garden even before He was abused by the Roman soldiers. Jesus endured hell for all those whom He determined to save! When He said from the cross, "It is finished" the total payment for the sins of all those whom He elected to salvation were paid for. Remember that God knows everything and time has no constraints on Him.

Are you one of these that the Lord has chosen to save? You have to answer that question. But I must ell you that if you are one of God's sheep, you will have a great desire to be obedient to the Lord. Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments."

Did you know the church age ended in 1988? If you read 2 Thessalonians 2, the Lord tells us that the Holy Spirit is no longer in any church saving individuals. Furthermore, the Lord has allowed satan to rule there now (Matthew 24:15, 16). That is why we(true bleievers) are commanded to leave the local congregations. We are in a period of time known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24). This period prededes the 2nd coming of Jesus. When Christ comes back that will mark the end of the world and Judgment Day (2 Peter 3).

If you read Revelation 18 (whole chpater) the L:ord tells us that ALL the local churches, regardless of denomination have become Babylon. In verse 4 God commands the true believers to come out of Babylon or they will be under the wrath of God. Towards the end of this chapter, the Lord tells us that the voice of the Bridegroom (Christ) is no longer heard in the churches-Christ is not there anymore. Also the voice of the Bride (true believers) is no longer heard in the churches_the true believers have left. If you love your mom (I am sure you do), I know that you are going to want to warn her of this.

I hope this helps you.

Answer 10

It's not up to us to make you understand. If you want to know why Catholics do things a certain way then you need to go ask a Catholic priest.