Can a catholic perform hindu rituals?

[sweetjesus]

I am an RC since birth and I truly love and enjoy my worship to our LORD JESUS CHRIST. I have experienced his unconditional love for me till today. I love HIM above all things on earth and want to remain faithful to HIM.

I am now in a dilemma. I am in love with a hindu boy and we both had decided that we will follow our religion and not ask eachother to convert and also convince our parents. But lately, my boyfriend feels that this is going to be a problem in the long run and expects me to do the pooja at home or visit their temples to keep up the harmony in the family. He too willingly wants to accompany me to chruch and take part in the services.

I told him that I am willing to be part of the rituals but I will not worship their GODS for which he is offended.

Please help me.

 

[cathopologist]

I am an RC since birth and I truly love and enjoy my worship to our LORD JESUS CHRIST. I have experienced his unconditional love for me till today. I love HIM above all things on earth and want to remain faithful to HIM.

I am now in a dilemma. I am in love with a hindu boy and we both had decided that we will follow our religion and not ask eachother to convert and also convince our parents. But lately, my boyfriend feels that this is going to be a problem in the long run and expects me to do the pooja at home or visit their temples to keep up the harmony in the family. He too willingly wants to accompany me to chruch and take part in the services.

I told him that I am willing to be part of the rituals but I will not worship their GODS for which he is offended.

Please help me.

I was a former Brahmin and i converted to Catholicism.
Re: Can a catholic perform hindu rituals?
The answer is an obvious NO.

You may tell him that you respect his religion, and there is absolutely nothing wrong into stepping into his place of worship (should he invite you), but do not take part in the religious rituals. You will be contradicting your faith if you did so.

Also, to better understand your situation, please post which rituals you are referring to. Sometimes its easy to misunderstand customs with rituals.

 

[LDNCatholic]

You aren’t allowed to perform Pooja. As a Catholic you mustn’t participate in the rituals of any other religion.

You may go to the mandir with him, theres no harm in that, and observe the rituals, but you can’t actually take part.

Incidentally just in case you aren’t aware, there are some things he would not be able to do at church (recieve Eucharist for example).

I hope everything works out for you.

Peter

p.s I agree with cathopologist, posting which rituals specifically would probably lead to a better answer.

 

[sweetjesus]

Thanks to Cathopologist and Peter for your very prompt feedbacks. I really appreciate it.

When I say rituals, I mean doing pooja to their God or Goddess as we pray to our LORD JESUS CHRIST. His point is since I am going to be the daughter-in-law of the house, I cannot refrain myself from doing the rituals since they (would be inlaws) are very religious. So considering the fact only I had mentioned that I can sit in their worship area or even do the required arrangements but will not perform the pooja.

And when I say, he is willing to be part of our church activities, I only meant that he will accompany me to Church. Since he is not going to convert to Christianity, there is no question of him receiving the HOLY EUCHARIST.

I love him dearly and want to marry him but coming from strong and different religious backgrounds, we both are facing this problem. I have told him clearly I respect your religion but my heart, soul and body cannot accept to worship another GOD.

Please suggest me a solution in this situation.

 

[LDNCatholic]

Well you know that you cannot worship a false god. Are you sure his parents want you to perform pooja?

I will say a prayer for you.

 

[sweetjesus]

Thanks Peter for your Prayer. May God bless you. I pray to our LORD to lead me and him in the right path.

Yours in Christ.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I love him dearly and want to marry him but coming from strong and different religious backgrounds, we both are facing this problem. I have told him clearly I respect your religion but my heart, soul and body cannot accept to worship another GOD.

**This was a VERY common problem, even in the first century. St. Paul in 2 Cor 6:14 says we should NOT be unequally yoked with non-believers–and if you read the passage in context, he’s talking about Christians marrying non-Christians.

This may not be what you want to hear, but you’re setting up yourself for a GREAT deal of trouble, sorrow, or even worse.

And I would suggest you read this site about a Hindu who converted to Christianity, and her experience with Hinduism:

orthodoxphotos.com/readings/future/attractions.shtml**

 

[notself]

There could be very serious problems when you have children. Have you thought of that?

 

[Cinette]

I am an RC since birth and I truly love and enjoy my worship to our LORD JESUS CHRIST. I have experienced his unconditional love for me till today. I love HIM above all things on earth and want to remain faithful to HIM.

I am now in a dilemma. I am in love with a hindu boy and we both had decided that we will follow our religion and not ask eachother to convert and also convince our parents. But lately, my boyfriend feels that this is going to be a problem in the long run and expects me to do the pooja at home or visit their temples to keep up the harmony in the family. He too willingly wants to accompany me to chruch and take part in the services.

I told him that I am willing to be part of the rituals but I will not worship their GODS for which he is offended.

Please help me.

This is a red flag and you should take heed. Too much heartache and divorce occur because people follow their hormones:tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk:

 

[ralphinal]

I wish I could provide a simple answer that will please your heart and your soul. I cannot.

Everyone on here is correct. You can not participate.

If he loves you, he should understand that this is serious and important to you. If his parents love you because of his love for you, they will, too. If there is tension, there is something lacking as far as respect for you goes.

 

[cathopologist]

When I say rituals, I mean doing pooja to their God or Goddess as we pray to our LORD JESUS CHRIST. His point is since I am going to be the daughter-in-law of the house, I cannot refrain myself from doing the rituals since they (would be inlaws) are very religious. So considering the fact only I had mentioned that I can sit in their worship area or even do the required arrangements but will not perform the pooja.

You can sit and observe the poojas, but let it be aware to him and his family members that it is against Catholicism to partake in the religious rites. You can still be a daughter-in-law, and every prayer the family prays together, you will also pray for him and his family members. Why pray to a manifestation of a god or goddess when you have the Virgin Mary (she’s not a “goddess”, mind you) and Our Lord? Explain to him on why Catholicism is so important to you, in a non-condecending tone, i’m sure he’ll come to understand your position. Most Hindu’s respect Mary (but mistake her as a “goddess”). This is where you put your evangelical/apologetic skills to work.

And when I say, he is willing to be part of our church activities, I only meant that he will accompany me to Church. Since he is not going to convert to Christianity, there is no question of him receiving the HOLY EUCHARIST.

Similarly, you can bring him to Church and explain what goes on during the mass and why Jesus is our God. And why non-Catholics cannot receive the Communion, but only after he converts.

I love him dearly and want to marry him but coming from strong and different religious backgrounds, we both are facing this problem. I have told him clearly I respect your religion but my heart, soul and body cannot accept to worship another GOD.

That’s good. Speak to him and perhaps try and evangelize, using soft approach but never say things like “My God is superior than yours.”

Please suggest me a solution in this situation.

These thing take time. Since you have already given each other two years, bring him to Church more regularly. Let him know that you love him dearly. Return him the favor as well, but do not take part in any of the mandir’s religious rituals. Many inter-racial and inter-religious couples marry one another (i was one of them). Some work, others don’t. This is the reality every mixed-couples have to weigh. It all depends on how you make your priorities and comprises work. I wish you all the best.

 

[marymol]

Like to be on the side of all who are advising caution !

if marriage is to help each other to get to heaven and primarily to bring up children in our true Faith, the sitaution you describe can be filled with problems ,esp. since after the initial egocentric romantic excitement is over ,the challenge of a Catholic marriage to be faithful to our role can be daunting ; we are ’ a chosen race , a Holy Nation , a royal priesthood ’ -and show our fidelity in all areas including -contraception, baptisms, Sunday Worship … a mixed marriage can be a source of confusion and strife in all these areas , esp. for the kids !

As to the benign nature of hindu worship ceremonies , not sure that it is so !

There are threads on the family forums ( forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=249609 ) that talk about narcisstic personality - how they can be pretty charming and such during courtship and then things change for bad while the selfcenterdness become predominant !

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=261976

The above advice may be a way to deal with all such sitautions , since selfihness is the root of such problems ; and hope that your married life does not have to be like the difficult wandering around of the Israelites who had to learn God’s will the hard way !

Since prevention is always the best thing in these sitauions , hope others out there in similar circumstances would take notice and avoid such !

Blessings !

 

[marymol]

Hope that the Word of God as the sword of The Spirit would be of much help in discerment, cutting away at all that needlessly cloud up decisions ; books of Ruth and Tobit - good resources in finding God’s will better .

One major reason for Ruth to come with her MIL was she sensed that the latter was worshipping the True God ; her courage was richly blessed by God through her descendants !

Tobit and Sara start their wedding night with a beautiful prayer - the husband fulfilling his role to be the priest in the domestic church !

Hope that any temporary heart ache you might even have , in making the right decision for The Kingdom - for our Lord to be
The True King in all areas , also would be richly blessed !

Peace !

 

[iaskquestions]

I love him dearly and want to marry him but coming from strong and different religious backgrounds, we both are facing this problem. I have told him clearly I respect your religion but my heart, soul and body cannot accept to worship another GOD.

**This was a VERY common problem, even in the first century. St. Paul in 2 Cor 6:14 says we should NOT be unequally yoked with non-believers–and if you read the passage in context, he’s talking about Christians marrying non-Christians.

**

Right on! “SweetJesus”, you must seriously ponder upon this verse.

 

[Cinette]

I love him dearly and want to marry him but coming from strong and different religious backgrounds, we both are facing this problem. I have told him clearly I respect your religion but my heart, soul and body cannot accept to worship another GOD.

**This was a VERY common problem, even in the first century. St. Paul in 2 Cor 6:14 says we should NOT be unequally yoked with non-believers–and if you read the passage in context, he’s talking about Christians marrying non-Christians.

This may not be what you want to hear, but you’re setting up yourself for a GREAT deal of trouble, sorrow, or even worse.

And I would suggest you read this site about a Hindu who converted to Christianity, and her experience with Hinduism:

orthodoxphotos.com/readings/future/attractions.shtml**

I do believe that you are good and sincere but you did ask for opinions.

Take it from a Great, grandmother who has made many mistakes and who harbours a lot of guilt as a result. You must be very careful and pray about this. I know Hindus who are the most amazing Catholics today.

I also know that Hindus are more tolerant - not like the Muslims.

But we are all originals. We have different fingerprints, different DNAs, different Journeys, not one face is exactly the same and the next (even twins). Maybe your man is original and very good but you need some time to discern this. Pray pray pray.

Sincerely,

 

[LDNCatholic]

I also know that Hindus are more tolerant - not like the Muslims.

But we are all originals. We have different fingerprints, different DNAs, different Journeys, not one face is exactly the same and the next (even twins).

Please compare the first sentence with the second.

 

[Cinette]

Please compare the first sentence with the second.

Thank you for pointing out my mistake - I meant to write as the next. But I see this kind of thing all the time on posts. We type and get interrupted and when click - oops we didn’t read the text!

Sorry!

 

[LDNCatholic]

Thank you for pointing out my mistake - I meant to write as the next. But I see this kind of thing all the time on posts. We type and get interrupted and when click - oops we didn’t read the text!

Sorry!

I wasn’t pointing that out, but you’re welcome. What I was actually pointing out is that in the first sentence you said ‘‘the Hindus’’ were more tolerant than ‘‘the Muslims’’ as if both groups made collective decisions (incidentally not all Hindus are that tolerant, quite a bit of persecution in India).

In the second sentence you talked about how we’re all different.

 

[Cinette]

I wasn’t pointing that out, but you’re welcome. What I was actually pointing out is that in the first sentence you said ‘‘the Hindus’’ were more tolerant than ‘‘the Muslims’’ as if both groups made collective decisions (incidentally not all Hindus are that tolerant, quite a bit of persecution in India).

In the second sentence you talked about how we’re all different.

I see. Yes as peoples we are equal, as individuals we are unique, original, different. that is what I meant.

Yes, I know there are very aggressive Hindus but I think either this is a recent trend or it is among very few of them.

Once our Parish Priest invited a Jew, a Muslim and a Hindu to Mass. They belonged to a group discussing commonality between the different religions especially insofar as morals are concerned - something like that. The Priest made sure that the songs/hymns we sang were “universal” - mentioning God without specifying Jesus. Each of them went up to say a few words. The Jew said a very beautiful prayer, the Muslim spoke politics and the Hindu spoke of love. I was sitting behind them and noticed that the only one who took part in the worship was the Hindu - he sang along with us.

 

[Steven_John]

I also know that Hindus are more tolerant - not like the Muslims.

Yes also many Muslims are very tolerant.

We must look at ALL people individually looking for their fruits

No man is judged by his brother.