why can't I as a protestant man decide to marry a catholic women?

Question

it just doesn't make sense, we both read the same bible, believe in the same GOD, believe in christ, the trinity, and his return, and have the same values........

how long will I as a baptist be forbidden to marry an anglican? or ame?

and YES, religion is very important to me, but i see this marriage as a way to learn more about catholics (i have no intention to convert). i am sure catholics are not 100 percent happy about what's going on in their church just like i am not 100 percent happy about what's going on in my protestant church......

and i would love my children to be raised as catholic and protestant.............i want them to attend a bible-believing church and to believe in christ, and since catholics believe in that, i want them to be exposed to that. yes, i do take issue with many things in the catholic church (as do many catholics) but all that matters in the end is my children growing up in a christian home with christian values.......protestant and catholic

Answer 1

The Catholic Church allows marriage between Catholics and non-Catholics.

Because the Church recognizes the tremendous challenge that the interfaith couple will face, they may have to get permission from the bishop.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I've been to many Catholic weddings in which either bride or groom (one of them) was not Catholic...it can be done, it's just that you as a non-Catholic would not be permitted to take Holy Communion; only Catholics can do that.

In order for a Catholic person's wedding to be Sacramental and "recognized" by the Church, the Catholic must be wed in a Catholic Church by a Catholic Priest. If this is not done, the Church basically considers the marriage "false" (unfortunately), and the Catholic is thereafter not supposed to receive Communion (they can attend Mass, but not take Communion). However, a marriage can be later Blessed by the Church, and then it is "official". The reason for the strictness is that for Catholics, Marriage is one of the Seven Sacraments, and is considered Sacred and Holy; thus, it should (must) be done within the Church.

So, I think you could definitely marry a Catholic, but for her sake, allow the ceremony to take place in a Catholic Church. Also, it is important for the children to be raised in the Catholic faith; otherwise she is shirking her parental responsibility. However, there should be no problem exposing the kids to BOTH Protestant and Catholic faiths, and then allowing them to choose as adults how to practice. Again, it is important for the kids to receive their Catholic Sacraments, up through Confirmation.

Hope this helps...I think it's wonderful that you are open to raising your kids within the Catholic faith as well as your own; that's very admirable...blessings to you.

Peace.

ETA: Doc, I'm sorry, but your information is 100% incorrect with regards to Mary...Catholics do not WORSHIP anyone except God...but they can and do PRAY, i.e. "TALK" to Mary, the Saints, Angels, even deceased friends and family. There's a HUGE difference b/t Worship and prayer, and Catholics only give Worship to God. Hope this clarifies things a bit for you!

Answer 3

The compromise you could have the child to baptized in a Catholic Church (though he needs to realize that a baptism in another church is still recognized by the Church), and then have the children go to public school. I am Catholic but none of my children go to a private Catholic school. One reason is that it's too expensive, and the other is I didn't like it so why should I subject my children to it? That should NOT be a defining thing when it comes to deciding to have another child. They can go to public schools and still be raised a Catholic or taught the beliefs by him. One other thing I would say to him is this: To a Catholic, having a vasectomy done is a sin, unless it is medically necessary. No, I don't like it, but that is what the Church teaches. You might want to remind him of that. Also has he had his marriage annulled? If not, then he is technically living in sin. But no matter, nothing will be resolved because you have made up your mind about the Catholic Church, and filled with negative feelings concerning it and your husband. You should be curious about why your husband has come more involved in his faith and has grown closer to God, rather that discount the Catholic Church outright and assume you know everything. You should be questioning your own feelings and finding out why, now suddenly that you husband is attending mass weekly, it bothers you so much and all these desires are now causing a conflict and strain on your marriage. Perhaps you should reflect on your own relationship with God, and find out what is bothering you first, and figure out if YOU are capable of compromising too. One thing you should think about: You SAY you want your children to decide when they get older, but yet you dislike the Catholic Church so much you don't want them brought up in the Catholic Faith. I know plenty of people who were brought up in one faith and when they got older chose another. Maybe you should start wondering why suddenly it bothers you so much, but when you got married these things didn't come up?

Answer 4

I do not have faith, as you do, and maybe you think that disqualifies me from answering your question. However,I do think about spiritual matters, and I would like to say,God, or Christ, (his son on earth, as you would believe) did not establish the protestant church, or the the catholic church, or the baptists, or any other church. Man did that, for a lot of reasons.Marry someone who will be open to the discussion and contemplation of the love of God, rather than the imposition of creed or dogma. Have children and teach them love and truth.

Answer 5

You as a Protestant man can marry a Catholic woman. I know many people who have successful marriages who were not both Catholic when married. Thank God we live in a free country with so many good people from many different religious backgrounds. We should love and accept everyone and I feel that your religious backgrounds and morals are not as different as some would believe.

Answer 6

A house divided cannot stand. I hear what you are saying and my heart goes out to you, but hear me. I do not want to sound like I am bashing Catholics because this goes for any mixed denominations. Where will you worship? One Sunday at Mass and the next at your Church? What about special seasons or occasions? How can your children grow up in that kind of environment? How can they build relationships with their peers or develop trust with their teachers. Will the teachers or priests help you or deter your goals?

Does your wife to be share the same exact concerns about the Catholic faith that you have? Because if she does not then you will have fights on certain issues. This is not going to build unity with your family.

If you and your spouse to be can agree on most other things I would look to another denomination that suits your unified beliefs.

Imagine what it would be like if you yoked with an un-believer. The Bible is not trying to keep you apart from your true love. It is trying to help you live a happy life free of un-necessary troubles. Marriage and children have enough worries with out adding to them.

Answer 7

Of course you can marry a Catholic woman! My Dad is Protestant and my Mom is Catholic. Both are very devout in their faith, and I share a little bit from both beliefs. They're beliefs have never clashed, we all love the same God. We just have different ideas how to worship him. As for which church we attend, we usually go to the Catholic service, but we'll attend whichever church meets our spiritual needs best.

You wont be able to get married in a Catholic church. But you can get married in a Protestant church and then have your vows blessed by the Catholic church.

Answer 8

A protestant man can marry a Catholic woman...go talk to a Catholic priest...and raise your kids to understand both viewpoints.

Peace, Love, and Blessings
Greenwood

Answer 9

I'm with you on Christian unity, brother, but who is forbidding you to marry?

Or are you asking more generally, why do we put up so many barriers between denominations? Don't worry about the barriers - in 200 years, they'll mostly fall. It is only the stubbornness of man that keeps the unity of Christ from being evident, and as such it cannot persist forever, for Christ overcomes all.

Answer 10

You can marry a Catholic woman, and be married in the church, so long as you say you'll bring the children that are born or adopted as Roman Catholic. However, if you think the theologies are similar, you either don't understand Roman Catholic theology, Baptist theology, or both.