I'm Catholic and my boyfriend is Christian, lately we have been talking about getting married, not now but in the future, I really would like to get married in a Catholic Church, but I love him so much, as long as we're married I'll be happy. Will he have to become Catholic to get married in a Catholic Church. I don't want to make him feel like he has to be in my religion to marry me. He has talked about wanting to go to Church with us (My family and I) to see what it's like.
2007-06-06 05:31:23 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Lots of questions!! Simple answer - no he doesn't have to become Catholic!
When a Catholic wishes to marry a Christian of another denomination they must ask for a dispensation from their local bishop. The granting of this dispensation is dependant upon the promise of the Catholic party to ensure that their future children will be baptised in the Catholic Church and brought up in the faith. This promise is also by all Catholic couples.
In the event of the marriage ceremony being held in the church of another denomination it is necessary to ask for a dispensation of Form, that is permission to be married by the rites of another church. Again this permission is granted by the diocesan bishop.
check out this website:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4459_be-married-catholic.html
good luck and best wishes to both of you!
2007-06-06 05:40:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think he has to be Catholic. The Church has changed. Catholics get married to lots of non Catholics these days. First try sharing the Church experience and see what happens. It is really hard after marriage of you don't share in the same spiritual vision, although both being Christian is good. Maybe you could share your religious preferences and experiences in marriage. Talk to a priest to get the details. It's not a big obstacle.
2007-06-06 12:37:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics are Christian but there are huge differances between many Christian faiths and Catholics. How does he feel about the Catholic faith? If questions like the wedding is coming up you two may want to sit down and talk about the difference between your faiths. Does he know about what Catholics believe? Do you two plan to have children? If so, what church will they goto and are you two going to raise them with your Christian beleif or his.
As far as where the wedding cerimony is held, I don't know if there is much difference between the Christian faiths. I would probably invite him to your Church and let him see. Have him talk to the priest.
2007-06-07 08:01:41 · answer #3 · answered by Oklahoma Tomcat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry this is so short an answer. As a Catholic priest I know that Canon Law teaches the following. (Canons 1124-1129) state that the Catholic and Christian parties can be married. The non-Catholic party is not obligated to become Catholic in ordered to be married to someone who is. My own father was Protestant and mother Catholic. Now they are both Catholic. Still, I assure you he does not have to convert to marry you. The Canon laws I mentioned stipulate this. May the Lord bless and keep you. May the light of His face shine upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john
2007-06-06 13:15:11 · answer #4 · answered by som 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He does not have to be catholic to get married in a catholic church, you just wouldn't have a catholic wedding. If you want the mass type of wedding then he would have to start to convert. Either way the church will recognize your marriage.
2007-06-06 12:47:44 · answer #5 · answered by norielorie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm approaching this from the Southern Baptist perspective, not the Catholic perspective (I'm a pastor, not a priest), but it used to be that interfaith marriages were ok so long as you promised to raise your children as Catholics. What I would do is go to your local parish priest and just sit down with him and ask him. You didn't say if you are a practicing Catholic, but if you are, you should discuss it with your own priest. If you aren't, does it really matter?
Oh yeah, I probably need to make one more comment as well. You said you were Catholic and your boyfriend is Christian, as if those terms are mutually exclusive. Although some more hard headed among my Baptist brothers and sisters might argue with me, I happen to think that Catholics can make some pretty good Christians....so long as they have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and repented and confessed their sins.....(to him)...Good luck on your upcoming wedding, and, by the way, this is important but not the pivot on which the success of your life together should turn. Do what your hearts tell you to do, but seek God's guidance as you start life together.
2007-06-06 12:38:03 · answer #6 · answered by Dan 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I had a similar problem with my husband. Obviously we figured it out since we're married :)
Our problem was a little different because neither of us have any faith, it was our PARENTS that caused the problem. His parents are catholic, and mine are fundamentalist christian. Eventually, we came to a solution that pleased everyone, and that was to have a Christian wedding (even tho i'm not, my dads a minister so he did the ceremony) in an unaffiliated chapel. So I guess my side "won".
you have to look at what's really important. you guys are in love and want to get married. Really, the best way is what works for you, but i would suggest, if its really an issue, to just go to the town hall and get married, or have a justice of the peace do it. It would be better than having a "wrong" ceremony, because a catholic one would be wrong to a christian and vice versa. better to go secular on this.
2007-06-06 12:37:45 · answer #7 · answered by Some Lady 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The thing that both of you should ask is will the differances in doctrine become a problem that will divide the marraige.There are things that the Catholics believe that would become a real stumbling block.
For instance: Abraham was accounted righteous because he believed God and it was accounted as righteousness, and I believe the same goes with Mary. She was a young virgin that believed God and was accounted righteous allowed her to conceive by the Holy Spirit. If I am right the catholic believe different.
I am not trying to cut down Catholics, but righteousness is based upon faith and faith cannot compromised away from anything written in God's word.
2007-06-06 16:35:24 · answer #8 · answered by wordoflifeb216 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been to more Catholic/Protestant weddings than I can count, including my sister's. Let me put it this way, you can certainly work something out if you want to work something out. Talk to your priest and your minister. My sister (Catholic) and brother-in-law (Baptist) were married in a Catholic church by a priest with a mass and all. The only difference is that my brother-in-law did not take communion. If you did not pay close attention you would not notice any difference at all.
Congrats and good luck.
2007-06-06 12:36:57 · answer #9 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I do believe he must convert to Catholicism to marry inside the church. My daughter (who is not Catholic) and her boyfriend (who is Catholic) have this problem and over the years it has become troublesome enough that they called off the wedding...
2007-06-06 12:37:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋