Catholic - Jehovah's Witness Marriage

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Mayk

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Hello everyone,

I have been with my girlfriend for quite some time now and I am looking in to marrying her. However, I am not yet knowledgeable on what will I be putting myself in to if I were to marry her as a JW. I would just like someone to enlighten me on what kind of situation will I be putting ourselves in to and if there are some that are currently in this situation, it would be great if you could share how is it so far

Thanks
 
There is category here in the forum about people who married non Catholics.
It’s more common than you think. I am married to a non Catholic and my spouse respects my beliefs we’ve never had any issues. I think it all depends on the two people involved. How much do you each respect one another’s beliefs? Is one of you insisting on the children being raised in one religion or both? Or how do you plan on raising the children? Catholic? JW? That is the big question. I think if you talk about that and are able to sort it out without causing an argument then you two must really love each other God bless your marriage
 
In general, it is not a good idea to marry someone with such a different belief system. It is especially difficult when raising children.

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God. They deny the Trinity. They have their own, very flawed, bible that their founder created. They are anti-Catholic. They lack valid baptism.

This is extremely problematic. If she is active in her faith, this is something that may be insurmountable. The two religions are VERY different. How will you raise children as Catholics in such an environment. How will you overcome the JW aversion to celebrating holidays and their numerous other aberrant beliefs?

I would find a JW-Catholic marriage unworkable.
 
In addition to what 1ke said there are some other practical issues. They do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving or even birthdays. While that may not be a problem right now for the two of you, think about what it will be like for future children.

For me there is a major consideration regarding medical care beliefs. They would rather a member die than accept a blood transfusion. What if were your child? A child who could live with a transfusion but would certainly die if not given blood.

These are all issues that have to be taken into consideration and decided upon before any marriage takes place.
 
Thank you everyone for the replies. Considering that such thing is unworkable. What is going to be the best solution for this problem that I have right now?
 
You might try going with her to some of the JW meetings at kingdom hall and then also invite her to attend Mass with you. You might discuss the differences in your beliefs. Other posters have mentioned the drawbacks or possible problems when a Catholic marries a JW, but on the other hand, there are a few things that I like about them. For example, JWs like to read the Bible a lot, and generally, they are pacifists. I don’t see where all these American wars do much good. What good did it do to kill so many innocent people in Vietnam, for example.
 
I believe that my girlfriend has no plans to convert even though I would try to convince her.
 
That’s not the best way to build a foundation for a relationship— trying to convert each other.

I think a wise and mature person would evaluate the situation together with their girlfriend and if it seems both are serious in their respective faiths come to a mutual agreement that dating is not in their best interest and move on.
 
While it might be interesting to talk about pacifism with a JW, the OP is thinking about possibly marrying and attempting to create a home with one. War-related theology doesn’t really have much to do with whether or not to give a dying child a blood transfusion.
 
Agree.

The best thing is to wish her well and to stop dating.
 
Discuss conversion first before taking the leap because there’s simply no way an observant Catholic and JW can compromise on this.
 
Allegra said:
War-related theology doesn’t really have much to do with whether or not to give a dying child a blood transfusion.
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I understand that according to an article in the journal Heart, Lung, and Circulation that there are successful alternatives to blood transfusions?
 
I don’t know anything about that journal and I’m not a doctor. However, I would imagine that if someone has a morally based objection to medical interference that would probably extend to any alternative procedure out there that prevents death by blood loss. They actually don’t do those transfusion willy-nilly these days. They really only do them in an absolute emergency situation.

Anyway, my point is that there are aspects of Catholicism and the JW faith that are diametrically opposed to one another and particularly fall into the categories of marriage and child-rearing. A Catholic simply can’t marry a JW and raise a family without one of the two of them compromising their beliefs.
 
Allegra said:
I would imagine that if someone has a morally based objection to medical interference that would probably extend to any alternative procedure out there that prevents death by blood loss.
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No. I think that JW accept alternative procedures. At least that is what I read on their website.
Allegra said:
A Catholic simply can’t marry a JW and raise a family without one of the two of them compromising their beliefs.
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Can a Catholic find someone who agrees with him on the rejection of the use of artificial birth control? It is fairly difficult to do so. The Catholic may have to compromise his beliefs on that issue. Also, notice that many health plans push women into using artificial birth control after they have given birth. If the woman refuses to accept it, the nurse makes a weird face and implies that the woman is stupid. So many times the Catholic is pressured into compromising her beliefs. Not always of course.
 
I’m not sure where you’re going with this. Yes. A Catholic can find a person who rejects the use of ABC, especially when they are looking among other faithful Catholics. It’s not really that hard at all. Furthermore, there are lots of non-Catholic women out there who choose to forgo ABC completely for health reasons. I’m not sure where you live, but in the US it is not true that health plans push women into using ABC. That would be none of their business and illegal. People make faces about all sorts of things. What of it? A fellow 12yo once made a face at me when I told her I don’t smoke. I don’t know how I survived it. Your tolerance for standing against pressure seems unusually low and that’s all the more reason to seek a relationship with someone with similar beliefs to your own. Having a life partner that encourages and supports you spiritually rather than fighting and pressuring you at every turn is really a blessing.
 
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