Ask a young Catholic

[_Angelino]

In response to the many non-Catholic “Ask a” threads on this message board, I figured I’d start a Catholic one of my own.

About me:

• Late 20’s
• Background in law & business
• Politically moderate
• In a non-sacramental mixed marriage
• No kids
• Small town Catholic background, now living in a big multi-religious city
• Raised in the Church, left for 7 years, came back to the faith shortly before I was married

I’m happy to answer any questions from non-Catholics about my experience in (and out) of the faith.

And if there are any Catholics out there that want to talk about younger people in the Church, I’d be happy to give any insight I might have as well!

Don’t be afraid to ask! Whether it’s about how I came back to the Church, why I left in the first place, what it’s like living in an interfaith marriage, or something else, I’ll do my best to answer!

 

[Joe_5859]

Okay. What it’s like living in an interfaith marriage? Have you been married long?

 

[Marie1234]

What’s a Non-sacramental marriage mixed marriage?

Why did you leave the faith and have you come back to Catholicism?

 

[Alizarin]

In response to the many non-Catholic “Ask a” threads on this message board, I figured I’d start a Catholic one of my own.

Should a Catholic “Ask a” thread be in the Non-Catholic Religions section? The site as a whole already serves that function anyway, doesn’t it?

 

[_Angelino]

Okay. What it’s like living in an interfaith marriage

There are pro’s and con’s, but for the most part I find it a really positive experience.

First, I think it’s important to say that one of the things that I first really admired (and still do!) about my wife is that she started her life with no religion whatsoever (her parents, one Jewish and the other Protestant, fell into the category of “let the child decide when he/she grows up”) but still found her faith later in life. That she was able to not only sense, but respond to God’s call (in the best way she knew how), surrounded by both a secular culture and family is, in my opinion, truly admirable.

Second, I’ll admit that I perceive our marriage to be easier than other interfaith marriages when it comes to religion. My wife is a Unitarian Universalist. They don’t have any dogmatic beliefs (just about anybody can join - yes this frustrates me too at times ), so I don’t have any of the heated “justification by faith” and “Sola Scriptura” debates that I see in Catholic-Protestant couples.

But, yes, we undeniably have dogmatic differences, but when we discuss them we are always respectful.

However, the way those beliefs manifest themselves in our daily actions are remarkably the same. We both place a strong emphasis on compassion, love for our neighbor, social justice, etc. We both place a strong emphasis on this - how our daily actions are impacted and guided by our faith.

When it comes the the mechanics - we attend both services. Kids will be raised Catholic, however.

Something I’ve found great about having a non-Catholic spouse is the questions she asks that you wouldn’t get from a Catholic (think stuff like “What’s Apostolic Succession?” and “Is the Pope always infallible?”). I enjoy answering them and it keeps me on my toes regarding my grounding in Church teaching.

With all that said, would it be logistically easier to be married to a Catholic? Sure. Would I have as much understanding of my faith? I’m not so sure.

As an aside: Planning our wedding was, to put it mildly, an adventure (in both good and bad ways). But I can go into that later if you want…

Have you been married long?

We’ve known each other for 10 years. Dated for 7.5. Married for 1.5.

 

[_Angelino]

What’s a Non-sacramental marriage mixed marriage

Marriage is considered a Sacrament only when your spouse is a Christian who has been baptized in the trinitarian form (basically everyone who calls themselves Christians except JW and LDS).

Anything else is considered a “natural marriage.”

My wife is unbaptized, hence my marriage is not a Sacramental one. However, should she decide to be baptized one day, it would automatically become a Sacrament for both of us.

Why did you leave the faith and have you come back to Catholicism?

Lots of reasons, but there is one major any one secondary reason that comes to mind.

The major reason was I felt the calling from God. I’d lived my life for a number of years that was totally centered on my own satisfaction, and in the end I felt the need for more - that something was missing. I didn’t immediately come back to Catholicism, and toyed with the idea of other religions. After a long period of soul-searching I realized it was my time in the Catholic faith that I felt closest to God, whose members (from the nuns, to the priests, to the lay people) most exemplified living out Christ’s teachings (the Beatitudes in particular - which have always seen as the cornerstone of my ethics, whether I was a practicing Catholic or not), that I found meaning as part of the Church, and that it was in the Church that I was able to manifest something I always yearned for - the melding of both faith and reason.

The secondary reason was that I got tired of Catholics being portrayed in a poor light or as a throwback to a simpler time. There are so many ways which the Church lives the Gospel and is a force for what is good and right in the world, every single day. I couldn’t in good conscience make that argument and, in the same breathe, say I was non-practicing.

I hope this makes sense!

 

[_Angelino]

Should a Catholic “Ask a” thread be in the Non-Catholic Religions section? The site as a whole already serves that function anyway, doesn’t it?

I figured this section would be the best place run into a non-Catholic. My apologies if I’m doing this wrong!

 

[Miriam1947]

I figured this section would be the best place run into a non-Catholic. My apologies if I’m doing this wrong!

Since this forum is the one I most often read, thanks for posting here.

If the moderators decide it’s in the wrong place, they’ll move it. Not to worry.

 

[504Katrin]

There are pro’s and con’s, but for the most part I find it a really positive experience.

First, I think it’s important to say that one of the things that I first really admired (and still do!) about my wife is that she started her life with no religion whatsoever (her parents, one Jewish and the other Protestant, fell into the category of “let the child decide when he/she grows up”) but still found her faith later in life. That she was able to not only sense, but respond to God’s call (in the best way she knew how), surrounded by both a secular culture and family is, in my opinion, truly admirable.

Second, I’ll admit that I perceive our marriage to be easier than other interfaith marriages when it comes to religion. My wife is a Unitarian Universalist. They don’t have any dogmatic beliefs (just about anybody can join - yes this frustrates me too at times ), so I don’t have any of the heated “justification by faith” and “Sola Scriptura” debates that I see in Catholic-Protestant couples.

But, yes, we undeniably have dogmatic differences, but when we discuss them we are always respectful.

However, the way those beliefs manifest themselves in our daily actions are remarkably the same. We both place a strong emphasis on compassion, love for our neighbor, social justice, etc. We both place a strong emphasis on this - how our daily actions are impacted and guided by our faith.

When it comes the the mechanics - we attend both services. Kids will be raised Catholic, however.

Something I’ve found great about having a non-Catholic spouse is the questions she asks that you wouldn’t get from a Catholic (think stuff like “What’s Apostolic Succession?” and “Is the Pope always infallible?”). I enjoy answering them and it keeps me on my toes regarding my grounding in Church teaching.

With all that said, would it be logistically easier to be married to a Catholic? Sure. Would I have as much understanding of my faith? I’m not so sure.

As an aside: Planning our wedding was, to put it mildly, an adventure (in both good and bad ways). But I can go into that later if you want…

We’ve known each other for 10 years. Dated for 7.5. Married for 1.5.

So, your father in law is Jewish?

 

[drac16]

Ok, let’s say that an adult is going to get baptized. Does a priest examine an adult’s testimony before he baptizes him/her? (so as to check if there’s any evidence of spiritual growth in his/her life)

 

[NowHereThis]

In response to the many non-Catholic “Ask a” threads on this message board, I figured I’d start a Catholic one of my own.

About me:

• Late 20’s
• Background in law & business
• Politically moderate
• In a non-sacramental mixed marriage
• No kids
• Small town Catholic background, now living in a big multi-religious city
• Raised in the Church, left for 7 years, came back to the faith shortly before I was married

I’m happy to answer any questions from non-Catholics about my experience in (and out) of the faith.

And if there are any Catholics out there that want to talk about younger people in the Church, I’d be happy to give any insight I might have as well!

Don’t be afraid to ask! Whether it’s about how I came back to the Church, why I left in the first place, what it’s like living in an interfaith marriage, or something else, I’ll do my best to answer!

Fantastic, thanks for offering this opportunity! I’ll probably think of other questions later, so hope you don’t mind if I come back for more bites at the apple, so to speak. Anyhoo, my first question is:

What doubts have you experienced about your faith, and how have you resolved them, or how are you dealing with them (if they are on-going)?

 

[Servant19]

There are pro’s and con’s, but for the most part I find it a really positive experience.

First, I think it’s important to say that one of the things that I first really admired (and still do!) about my wife is that she started her life with no religion whatsoever (her parents, one Jewish and the other Protestant, fell into the category of “let the child decide when he/she grows up”) but still found her faith later in life. That she was able to not only sense, but respond to God’s call (in the best way she knew how), surrounded by both a secular culture and family is, in my opinion, truly admirable.

Second, I’ll admit that I perceive our marriage to be easier than other interfaith marriages when it comes to religion. My wife is a Unitarian Universalist. They don’t have any dogmatic beliefs (just about anybody can join - yes this frustrates me too at times ), so I don’t have any of the heated “justification by faith” and “Sola Scriptura” debates that I see in Catholic-Protestant couples.

But, yes, we undeniably have dogmatic differences, but when we discuss them we are always respectful.

However, the way those beliefs manifest themselves in our daily actions are remarkably the same. We both place a strong emphasis on compassion, love for our neighbor, social justice, etc. We both place a strong emphasis on this - how our daily actions are impacted and guided by our faith.

When it comes the the mechanics - we attend both services. Kids will be raised Catholic, however.

Something I’ve found great about having a non-Catholic spouse is the questions she asks that you wouldn’t get from a Catholic (think stuff like “What’s Apostolic Succession?” and “Is the Pope always infallible?”). I enjoy answering them and it keeps me on my toes regarding my grounding in Church teaching.

With all that said, would it be logistically easier to be married to a Catholic? Sure. Would I have as much understanding of my faith? I’m not so sure.

As an aside: Planning our wedding was, to put it mildly, an adventure (in both good and bad ways). But I can go into that later if you want…

We’ve known each other for 10 years. Dated for 7.5. Married for 1.5.

You mention in this post that you both have a strong passion for social justice. This is wonderful!!

How does this passion manifest itself in your lives?