At this rate, I won't feel like I belong in any church

[St_Francis]

Thanks both

Some Protestant churches are quite big on the whole equally yoked thing. I’ve had several people post things on Facebook which are very anti believers marrying non believers. It hurts to see because I love my husband dearly, we have a fantastic marriage and my faith has grown hugely since I’ve been with him. In fact it’s because of him I started looking at the Catholic Church. I used to be anti catholic

Oh, wow… back before I returned to the Church, when I was a “mere Christian” as CS Lewis put it, I had a tape by Elisabeth Eliot (a Protestant missionary who returned to the wild place where her husband had been killed) about this, and she said there were so many Christians “unequally yoked” because some came or returned to Christianity after their marriage and that no one should be criticized for it.

So what do these people think? That those who marry before they are Christians should not consider becoming Christian?

 

[Catholic1954]

So for the past couple of months, I have been reading and posting on here, I’ve watched episodes of journey home on EWTN, I’ve read the shorter explained version of theology of the body, I’ve read “The Protestants Dilemma”, the early church fathers and Jacobs Ladder: 10 steps to truth. I’m in the process of reading the catechism too. I have also been attending mass on occasion and spoken to a priest once. Thank you to all of your suggestions so far, it’s helped a great deal.

When I first came here, I felt as if I was drawn to the Catholic Church but didn’t understand or agree with many of its teachings. on reflection, reading and praying about these things, I find myself more drawn to the Catholic Church then ever before. Even my atheist husband has an attraction to it.

I’ve realised I have always believed in the real presence, I just didn’t realise I did. I believe in the communion of the saints, I believe in the sacrament of reconciliation. When I sit at mass, I feel Gods presence greater than I ever have done before, it’s a wonderful feeling,

…HOWEVER…I do still have issues and every time I feel like I have sorted one issues, another comes about.bThe biggest for me is contraception, I can’t get my head around it. I have tried to but can’t. Then I come across a post in my “validity of marriage” thread about a revert whose 30year marriage is being broken because the church doesn’t recognise it - this infuriates me. It’s so big on divorce, yet willing to break up a 30year legal marriage? especially when it’s ok for me to be married to an atheist just because we were married before I will have become (maybe) catholic?

So here is my dilemma, I can’t go back to the Protestant churches, I don’t feel anything there, it just feels like four walls, artificial. Not the truth. Yet, I don’t feel in complete approval of the Catholic Church either. So now I feel stuck in no church…

The Holy Spirit is calling you (and your husband, I think!) into the Catholic Church. Keep seeking the answers and praying about it and you will find the answers. Try reading “Humanae Vitae” for an explanation of why contraception is wrong and the Church is against it.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Oh… this is confusing? I was under the impression a baptized person could marry a non-baptized person in the Church or have their marriage blessed by the Church–is this jot the case? Or would the marriage, altho performed in a Catholic church, not be sacramental?

1. That can happen.
2. It is not sacramental.

I have to dig to find the USCCB FAQ about it that explains it best I’ll post it later.

 

[EasterJoy]

Oh… this is confusing? I was under the impression a baptized person could marry a non-baptized person in the Church or have their marriage blessed by the Church–is this jot the case? Or would the marriage, altho performed in a Catholic church, not be sacramental?

Yes, it is possible for a Catholic to obtain permission to enter into a valid marriage with an unbaptized person. The OP is already married, though, not contemplated marriage after conversion.

 

[1ke]

Oh… this is confusing? I was under the impression a baptized person could marry a non-baptized person in the Church or have their marriage blessed by the Church–is this jot the case?

Yes, correct. this is a valid natural marriage.

Or would the marriage, altho performed in a Catholic church, not be sacramental?

Correct. If one both people are not baptized, the marriage is a natural marriage.

Baptism is the gateway to all other sacraments.

 

[St_Francis]

Thanks, everyone, for clarifying about the status of a mrriage between a non-baptized person and one who is baptized. My quota for learning something new today!

 

[aachristopher]

Hello True_Faith13.

Thank you for sharing your faith journey with us. It is a wonderful thing that you can sit in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and feel the real presence. I pray that more Catholics would find themselves in such a graced position.

Having doubts and issues is a normal part of the faith journey. As a cadle Catholic, when I was a teenager I struggled so much with what the Catholic Church taught - feeling it to be very rigid and downright dogmatic.

God entered my life very powerfully through a conversion experience during confession shortly after my 21st birthday. I can only describe it as a Catholic equivalent of being ‘Born Again’ as my life chaged completely. When that happened, Jesus’ presence was so close and so intimate that all my doubts, frustrations and issues with the Church simply dissolved away - in moments. All that mattered was that Jusus was real and had come into my life. Jesus broke my heart that day, and then put it back together the way it needed to be done.

Just keep sitting in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and focus on Jesus. Everything else is secondary issue. As a wonderful priest once told me: “It’s like sun-bathing in holiness”

God Bless you and your journey.

 

[Truth_Faith13]

Thanks, everyone, for clarifying about the status of a mrriage between a non-baptized person and one who is baptized. My quota for learning something new today!

It took me a while to understand. To clarify what I meant by non-believer…simply not having a belief in Christ (a Christian). This includes both baptised & unbaptised (they don’t put as much emphasis on baptism…it’s a public display that you believe in the church I went to)

So for me, I believed in Christ when I married…my husband didn’t. This is considered a huge no no in the church I went to. It just happens that I was baptised and my husband wasn’t as babies but even if I wasn’t baptised, it would still be a no no.

I believe this extends to interfaith marriages too

 

[kentcara2003]

Hello True_Faith13.

Thank you for sharing your faith journey with us. It is a wonderful thing that you can sit in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and feel the real presence. I pray that more Catholics would find themselves in such a graced position.

Having doubts and issues is a normal part of the faith journey. As a cadle Catholic, when I was a teenager I struggled so much with what the Catholic Church taught - feeling it to be very rigid and downright dogmatic.

God entered my life very powerfully through a conversion experience during confession shortly after my 21st birthday. I can only describe it as a Catholic equivalent of being ‘Born Again’ as my life chaged completely. When that happened, Jesus’ presence was so close and so intimate that all my doubts, frustrations and issues with the Church simply dissolved away - in moments. All that mattered was that Jusus was real and had come into my life. Jesus broke my heart that day, and then put it back together the way it needed to be done.

Just keep sitting in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and focus on Jesus. Everything else is secondary issue. As a wonderful priest once told me: “It’s like sun-bathing in holiness”

God Bless you and your journey.

Im all for sun-bathing in holiness!!!
And imagine receiving the All-Mighty and Ever-Living God, the Thrice Holy Trinity, who In Christ Jesus Incarnates Himself as Man, and went further inventing the most awesome way to stay with us, because He Loves us, in spite of our wretchedness, or is it because of our wretchedness?!.

AAchristopher has receive a great gift after the reception of the Holy Eucharist! I wish it for you as I wish it for all!! and myself!!as …

the Psalmist tells us, “Blessed are those whom you choose and call to dwell in your house forever singing your praise”. …“One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere, the threshold of the house of God I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked.”

Personally, I desire to grow in eucharistic reception and adoration throughout my life!! It is the Lord!!! Is He not so amazingly humble and meek…so humble that He is prepared to remain ignored and forgotten for all time for the sake of those who would choose to stay with Him in thanksgiving and praise…May we be numbered among those who are able to fathom this great gift!!!and make it our life’s aim to return Love for Love as Bl John Paul 2 the Great has said.

God bless. You and yours in our prayers

Kentcara2003 (3rd Order SSCC)

 

[pamnbam]

To be honest, many of us Catholics still have questions about why the Church’s teachings are what they are. It can be difficult indeed to wrap our heads around some things. No one is perfect, and God doesn’t ask or expect of us to understand His ways. He instead asks us to trust Him.

 

[Truth_Faith13]

I have started reading the fathers know best by jimmy akin, it’s really helpful on some of the issues. For example I didn’t realise Mary’s mother had entrusted her from infancy to serve The Lord (vow of virginity) and that Joseph being an older widower was assigned as her protector.

 

[TCEL]

I have started reading the fathers know best by jimmy akin, it’s really helpful on some of the issues. For example I didn’t realise Mary’s mother had entrusted her from infancy to serve The Lord (vow of virginity) and that Joseph being an older widower was assigned as her protector.

I asked for this book for Christmas to have on hand for reference. I’m glad you’re finding it helpful!

 

[MacQ]

First…may God bless you on your faith journey!

You raised quite a few concerns.
First let me hasten to assure you that the LAST think the Church wants is to break up a marriage.

Second, rather than try to parse out theological and canon details, I suggest that you and your spouse look in your area for an RCIA program. It should answer your questions. Bear in mind that it is a program of “enquiry” only…so you don’t have to commit to becoming a Catholic at all to enter it.

You may find as you go along that some of the concerns you have are not barriers at all…that happens once we begin to understand the faith and the theology.
I think your heart has already found the big thing. The details will sort themselves out.