Baptist girl, catholic guy?

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Godsprincess24 said:
Hi I was catholic my whole life until I left the catholic church to become a Baptist 2 yrs ago, I dated a few christian guys but it seemed to never work out and my soon to be new bf is catholic and im Baptist (southern baptist) I love my church and im not willing to go back and hes not leaving catholicism either, we plan to alternate churches every other week my mother is a devout catholic as all my family is catholic on both sides a few are not practicing like my dad, my question is can a Southern Baptist and my catholic bf workout? So far it hasnt been a issue we have a ton in common and can talk for hrs everyday, I couldnt help liking him we are just drawn to each other 🙂 hes 26 and im 24, thank you 🙂
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Are you talking about marriage or about just whether you can continue to date?

If you marry, there are a few practical things to consider:
  1. even though you consider yourself Baptist, you are considered to be Catholic by virtue of your Baptism. This means that, in order to have a valid marriage, you will get married in the Catholic Church.
  2. as part of your marriage prep, you will be instructed about your responsibility to raise your children Catholic.
  3. Catholics are required to attend Mass every Sunday. So, if your boyfriend (or later husband) goes to your Church on some weeks, he will also need to attend Mass. Some couples work this out by attending Saturday evening Mass and a Sunday non-Catholic service.
  4. If you marry, other things will possibly come up as areas where your beliefs differ - contraception, Sacraments for the children, even art in the home. We have posts here on CAF all the time where a non-Catholic spouse objects to things like a crucifix in the home or something like that. You have a little advantage in this area since you were raised Catholic and are probably used to Catholic imagery.
The trickiest part, IMHO, will be to find a good priest to do your marriage prep. Most priests deal with mixed faith marriages a little differently but, as I said, yours isn’t technically a mixed faith marriage. You need a priest who will make sure all of those issues are still covered in your marriage prep. That’s not a guarantee of no problems but at least you will have a chance to discuss with a professional some of the things that are likely to come up.
 
Godsprincess24 said:
love my church and im not willing to go back and hes not leaving catholicism either, we plan to alternate churches every other week
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You do realize, don’ t you, that he is required to attend Mass every weekend and holy day of obligation? That doesn’t mean he can’t also attend your church every other weekend, but he can’t skip Mass every other weekend.

And by the way:
a) Catholics ARE Christian.
b) feeling that you were just “going through the motions” as a Catholic is on you, not on the Church.
 
I realize that, im willing to make it work with him, ive honestly missed being catholic at times because I was raised that way, im willing to do anything to make it work, I wouldnt want put the children in the middle as much as possible
 
Godsprincess24 said:
I really meant to say catholics. Are christians but protestants think differently,
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As a former nondenominational Protestant, now Catholic 40 years, I would say Protestants think (believe) differently than other Protestants. That’s why there are thousands of denominations. For instance my Protestant church thought OSAS was a false doctrine as do the majority of Protestant denominations.
 
Godsprincess24 said:
I realize that, im willing to make it work with him, ive honestly missed being catholic at times because I was raised that way, im willing to do anything to make it work, I wouldnt want put the children in the middle as much as possible
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I strongly encourage both of you to meet with his priest to discuss the implications of your situation and for guidance.
 
Godsprincess24 said:
I realize that, im willing to make it work with him, ive honestly missed being catholic at times because I was raised that way, im willing to do anything to make it work, I wouldnt want put the children in the middle as much as possible
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Your “soon to be new boy friend” is Catholic. And you are willing to do anything to make it work?

Really.

Major red flags are flying all over this thread.
 
We are honestly taking our time to known each other and weve been friends for a while, im not asking for people to judge my relationship with him, all im asking is friendly advice, we are taking our relationship very slowly, im sorry if my posts sound very insensible this is new to me, I was catholic my whole life and I didnt intend to like a guy who was catholic it just happened, so please all im asking is friendly advice in a non judgemental environment
 
Godsprincess24 said:
I left because I didnt feel connected with God it felt too much a routine with me
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I have been going to mass, for the most part daily, for 40 years and have never felt not connected with God, quite the contrary. Nor have I found it just a routine. Baptist as all denominations have a routine to their services.
Godsprincess24 said:
Also i wanted a relationship with God not just a routine I was going through the motions as catholic
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That seems to be the problem you were just going through the motions. Never opening yourself to the Holy Spirit or really praying the mass. To be connected to God you must have an active prayer life learning more about him by reading scripture. Isn’t that how you become connected to your boy friend by talking and learning more and more about him.
 
My dad is a Catholic, mom is a Protestant. They’re married at a Reformed Protestant Church. I’ve been a Protestant but received Catholic education in my whole life. So is my sister.

Catholics are also Christians! My parents do have trouble at home, but it is not because of their different beliefs. Mom respects him being a Catholic.

Although my dad is Catholic, he attended Pentecostal church with my mom but now because he is sick, he can’t go outside anymore so he stays home and watch RKK (Rooms-Katholieke Kerk) TV channel on sundays.

Every relationship is different! To tell you the truth, jlhargus’s reply is true! Each Protestant’s denomination thinks very differently than other Protestants because of own Bible’s interpretations, etc.

Pray! Let God guide you! He knows better 🙂 And I suggest you to learn more about the source belief of both Protestantism and Catholicism, and talk to a priest is a good idea.
 
Vanez thank you so much for the advice and for the others with the helpful advice 🙂 when it is time we will talk to his priest and go into pre Cana learn more about each others faiths 🙂 anymore advice would be appreciated
 
Godsprincess24 said:
ive honestly missed being catholic at times because I was raised that way,
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Princess I think you miss being catholic not because you were reared that way but because the Holy Spirit is tugging on your heart at times.

Why not examine why you became Baptist instead of Church of Christ or another Protestant denomination. Was it just feelings, or was it their doctrine? If it’s doctrine then lets examine them and Catholic doctrine in the light of scripture

I will be praying for you.
 
Godsprincess24 said:
Im willing to respect his catholic faith and he can respect mine, im just worried if we will butt heads 😦
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You will butt heads…guaranteed. Also, I would say it’s better to go to both churches each week so your boyfriend can fulfill his obligation by attending mass.

I think you need to think about your reasons for leaving Gods church for mans church.

You can have a personal relationship with God in the Catholic Church, and there are lots of different styles of mass to break your routine.

As a former baptist/evangelical Myself, I will pray for your return home to the church.

You will find that being a baptist, doctrines are very loose. Lots of opinions about things and this will add to confusion and arguments with your boyfriend.

Here’s an example; you decide to get married and he doesn’t want to use birth control. He can cite church teaching. He can also cite protestant and baptist sources against it. You want to use birth control and you can find other Protestants that support it.

How would this be resolved?

So just a hypothetical, but something to consider.

The best solution would be for you to become Catholic though!! ;D
 
Modern_Revert said:
" he tried being a Christian bit stuck to being catholic"

Did you actually just say that?

Yes, you are going to have problems.

Catholics ARE Christian!
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Thanks for saying that; my thoughts exactly. So many protestants think that we are not Christian. :mad: It drives me nuts and is very insulting. Many Catholics have died and are dying everyday for their Christian faith. With that comment Princess, you lost alot of credibility with me. All you need do is read a newspaper.
 
Jilargus I will examine it, when I had stepped into my baptist church I felt at home the first time I walked in, I really enjoyed the mix between contemporary music and hymns, I also love the fact they read the Bible every Sunday, what I didn’t have as a catholic was a firm foundation in the bible I read mine alot constantly, it wasnt really the doctrine I felt I belonged at my baptist church, in the Church I felt it was too large and like I was being snuffed out also I didnt like confession, I like the way baptists can just go to god for forgiveness, but I do miss communion
 
Godsprincess24 said:
Jilargus I will examine it, when I had stepped into my baptist church I felt at home the first time I walked in, I really enjoyed the mix between contemporary music and hymns, I also love the fact they read the Bible every Sunday, what I didn’t have as a catholic was a firm foundation in the bible I read mine alot constantly, it wasnt really the doctrine I felt I belonged at my baptist church, in the Church I felt it was too large and like I was being snuffed out also I didnt like confession, I like the way baptists can just go to god for forgiveness, but I do miss communion
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You do realize that the first part of the Catholic Mass is liturgy of the Word with 2 readings, psalms in-between and the gospel reading? To say that you never had the Bible every Sunday in the Catholic Church is not true. Now maybe you were never encouraged to read the Bible on your own at home but is that the Catholic Churches fault or your parents. The Catholic Mass has more quotes from the Bible through the whole Mass than any Baptist serve will ever have.
 
Godsprincess24 said:
We are honestly taking our time to known each other and weve been friends for a while, im not asking for people to judge my relationship with him, all im asking is friendly advice,** we are taking our relationship very slowly,** im sorry if my posts sound very insensible this is new to me, I was catholic my whole life and I didnt intend to like a guy who was catholic it just happened, so please all im asking is friendly advice in a non judgemental environment
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You are taking it slowly, but you are talking about pre-cana classes. That isn’t taking is slowly. Especially since you are calling him your soon to be boyfriend.

My advice. Truly take it slowly.

I am married and he isn’t Catholic. It can work. But it starts with you knowing what the Catholic faith actually teaches.

People here have been jumping on you for saying that Catholics aren’t Christians. That is a big problem. And it is something you need to know if you are going to claim that you know anything about your boyfriend’s faith.

Since you will be dating, you should read about Catholic morality.

You should read about his obligations. He needs to attend Mass every week. He can’t switch back and forth.

Basically, learn about the faith of your childhood.
 
Godsprincess24 said:
I didnt like confession, I like the way baptists can just go to god for forgiveness
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As Catholics we go straight to God. We also obey Jesus and confess our sins to the folks He gave authority to forgive & retain sins.

You might find this blog helpful.
catholic.com/blog/tim-staples/is-confession-in-scripture-0

Consider taking your objections, one at a time, and looking into them. To see what the Church actually teaches. Catholic.com is a great resource to get started. This approach can be helpful in reconciling difference you and your bf may have.
 
I’m married to a Baptist and we had our first child a year ago–whom we are raising as a Catholic. I converted from Protestantism seven years ago. My wife grows more and more Catholic as we grow together, as I suspect would you if you married a Catholic. She is getting nearer to full communion. My advice is this: perhaps God brought this guy into your life to lead you home to your Catholic faith. Pray about that, at least.
 
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