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dann
Guest
Do you have catholic friends who married an non believer?
What was their opinion of this decision?
What was their opinion of this decision?
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1ke
Guest
A few.
I can’t tell you. But I can tell you my opinion, because in all the cases I’ve been personally friends with, they didn’t end well. The relationships were full of strife. And divorce.
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TheLittleLady
Guest
I know a few, and when I converted my husband was a non-believer.
In my case, DH converted years later.
Of all the other mixed marriages I know, there have been two other conversions, one ended with the Catholic ceasing to practice, two of them have stayed married more than 20 years and the rest have ended in divorce.
In my case, DH converted years later.
Of all the other mixed marriages I know, there have been two other conversions, one ended with the Catholic ceasing to practice, two of them have stayed married more than 20 years and the rest have ended in divorce.
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ConfusedLucy
Guest
With the number of women taking children to mass alone this must be common. To be fair you could marry a Catholic who becomes lukewarm.
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almost2
Guest
Yes my family it was normal to marry a non catholic.
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Phemie
Guest
I married a non-believer, if by that you mean a non-Catholic. We celebrated our 42nd anniversary last October. He supported me in raising the kids Catholic, coming to Mass with them when I was involved in ministry and he wasn’t working. He sang in our church choir for a while.
By contrast, my brother and my cousins all married other Catholics and 98% of them never go to church.
By contrast, my brother and my cousins all married other Catholics and 98% of them never go to church.
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ajfrab
Guest
My wife was a non-Catholic when we married. She converted about 10 years in. We are now approaching 36 years married. As for taking our faith seriously, I am now a Permanent Deacon. We both take that kind of seriously.
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Magdalene
Guest
This thread is annoying 
Marrying a non-Catholic does not automatically mean your marriage is doomed or your spouse won’t support you in your faith. As some have pointed out, marrying a Catholic does not automatically mean your marriage will be great and your spouse will support you in your faith.
It comes down to the individual, and you need to be able to determine if this person will be a good spouse or not. A good spouse will never be against you growing in your faith.
Marrying a non-Catholic does not automatically mean your marriage is doomed or your spouse won’t support you in your faith. As some have pointed out, marrying a Catholic does not automatically mean your marriage will be great and your spouse will support you in your faith.
It comes down to the individual, and you need to be able to determine if this person will be a good spouse or not. A good spouse will never be against you growing in your faith.
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Brendan
Guest
Same here,; my wife was an agnostic (and somewhat anti-Cathollic) when we got married. She became Catholic 4 years into our marriage. I also was in the Diaconate program, but stepped back when child #5, and then child #6 came along
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Magdalene
Guest
I’m not sure why you think someone wouldn’t be able to get permission.
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Magdalene
Guest
Catholics are sacramentally married to non Catholics all the time. It’s still a sacrament, they still receive that grace.
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crenfro
Guest
Hello.
My husband is an atheist - I married him before I experienced a reversion. He actually helped me get out of a lot of bad behaviors and to this day helps me think more rationally.
It’s not the best thing to do. It is better to marry someone who believes as you do. But sense and catechesis at that time in my life were not my strong suits.
My husband is an atheist - I married him before I experienced a reversion. He actually helped me get out of a lot of bad behaviors and to this day helps me think more rationally.
It’s not the best thing to do. It is better to marry someone who believes as you do. But sense and catechesis at that time in my life were not my strong suits.
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Magdalene
Guest
Ok, well I’m talking about Catholics marrying non-Catholic Christians. In your original post you asked, ‘what business does a Catholic have marrying a non-Catholic?’ That includes other Christians.
I didn’t know a marriage to an atheist was not sacramental, but it makes sense. Still, I’m not going to presume to know better than the Bishop that approves it by telling someone they should not marry an atheist.
But as I’ve said before on these forums, I wouldn’t advise marrying an atheist or agnostic, but there is nothing wrong with marrying a non Catholic Christian if they are the right person for you. You need to discern whether they will be a good spouse or not, and whether you’ll be ok with it or not.
I just get frustrated when I see people go on and on about how Catholics shouldn’t marry Protestants. It’s very discouraging to people who are probably reading these forums because they are dating or married to a Catholic.
What I hear when people say that, is that they think my husband should not have married me. They think I wasn’t good enough for him, they think he made a poor choice, and they think they are a better Catholic than him because of it. I realize maybe I’m being sensitive, but still, I don’t see why people are so adamant about it.
I didn’t know a marriage to an atheist was not sacramental, but it makes sense. Still, I’m not going to presume to know better than the Bishop that approves it by telling someone they should not marry an atheist.
But as I’ve said before on these forums, I wouldn’t advise marrying an atheist or agnostic, but there is nothing wrong with marrying a non Catholic Christian if they are the right person for you. You need to discern whether they will be a good spouse or not, and whether you’ll be ok with it or not.
I just get frustrated when I see people go on and on about how Catholics shouldn’t marry Protestants. It’s very discouraging to people who are probably reading these forums because they are dating or married to a Catholic.
What I hear when people say that, is that they think my husband should not have married me. They think I wasn’t good enough for him, they think he made a poor choice, and they think they are a better Catholic than him because of it. I realize maybe I’m being sensitive, but still, I don’t see why people are so adamant about it.
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Magdalene
Guest
There is a difference between being anti-Catholic and just being a non-Catholic Christian. I was a Methodist before I became Catholic, and my faith was very important to me. I went to Church every week and knew the Bible well. When I started learning about Catholicism, I didn’t agree with it, but I also wasn’t totally opposed to it. I just thought of it as traditional and old school, but not necessary.
But I see your point, it depends on the Protestant background. Marrying someone who thinks Catholics are idol worshipers and not even Christians… that would probably not work out!
But I see your point, it depends on the Protestant background. Marrying someone who thinks Catholics are idol worshipers and not even Christians… that would probably not work out!
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Credence
Guest
This is an interesting topic for me personally. While a cradle catholic myself, I married my wife during the period of my life when I really wasn’t embracing faith. She of course was basically agnostic.
Now that I am embracing my faith, I do notice a healthy dose of skepticism on her part, and I find myself holding back a little when we discuss matters of faith.
Interestingly, she was married previously (outside the church) and her ex unfortunately passed away. I was blessed to have met a priest who was able to help us navigate the process and log story short, he officiated our marriage within the church a couple years ago. To be honest, I was shocked that was even a possibility. When I came to him, it was simply to get direction on my life at a time of crisis. Not only did he help me there, he did what I thought was impossible and got me back into good standing with the church!
My advice to anyone who sees this is that while we cannot control who we fall in love with, please don’t let that make you feel you are unable to remain within the good graces of the church. I probably would have come back years sooner had I known it was possible, and I shudder to think that my personal crisis could have been avoided entirely had I lived closer to God all those years.
Now that I am embracing my faith, I do notice a healthy dose of skepticism on her part, and I find myself holding back a little when we discuss matters of faith.
Interestingly, she was married previously (outside the church) and her ex unfortunately passed away. I was blessed to have met a priest who was able to help us navigate the process and log story short, he officiated our marriage within the church a couple years ago. To be honest, I was shocked that was even a possibility. When I came to him, it was simply to get direction on my life at a time of crisis. Not only did he help me there, he did what I thought was impossible and got me back into good standing with the church!
My advice to anyone who sees this is that while we cannot control who we fall in love with, please don’t let that make you feel you are unable to remain within the good graces of the church. I probably would have come back years sooner had I known it was possible, and I shudder to think that my personal crisis could have been avoided entirely had I lived closer to God all those years.
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KatyCatholic
Guest
reminds me of tribalism
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KatyCatholic
Guest
a sacramental marriage requires two baptized christians. So, if a catholic marries a Buddhist, say, that would not be a sacramental marriage. It could be a natural and valid marriage, but not sacramental.
Do I know of anyone who married a non-believer? Yes! Me! I married a Buddhist, non-practicing, but also a non- or none-believer. Over the years of our marriage and my own testament through faith, I never really talked to her about God, she turned on her own with the help of the Holy Spirit (there might have been a few prayers on my part to the HS for her conversion, shhhhhhh!). Basically, she saw how much love is in my own family, especially between me and my brother, seeing how we relate and have discipline to at least try to follow God, she saw that in evidence plain and said she wanted to be a part of it all. I am now married to a Catholic wife of 6 days! A super-neophyte.
After our civil marriage, I found my way back into the church, update my sacraments and got my natural marriage validated, thus I have a convalidated marriage. Now that my wife is a baptized Catholic, I wonder if it automatically becomes sacramental or I wonder if I have to fill out more paperwork, LOL.
Do I know of anyone who married a non-believer? Yes! Me! I married a Buddhist, non-practicing, but also a non- or none-believer. Over the years of our marriage and my own testament through faith, I never really talked to her about God, she turned on her own with the help of the Holy Spirit (there might have been a few prayers on my part to the HS for her conversion, shhhhhhh!). Basically, she saw how much love is in my own family, especially between me and my brother, seeing how we relate and have discipline to at least try to follow God, she saw that in evidence plain and said she wanted to be a part of it all. I am now married to a Catholic wife of 6 days! A super-neophyte.
After our civil marriage, I found my way back into the church, update my sacraments and got my natural marriage validated, thus I have a convalidated marriage. Now that my wife is a baptized Catholic, I wonder if it automatically becomes sacramental or I wonder if I have to fill out more paperwork, LOL.
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Pup7
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My cradle Catholic, pre-Vatican II dad married my cradle Baptist mother. Trust me, she’s a walking Baptist encyclopedia.
He died in 2005. They were married 54 years.
He died in 2005. They were married 54 years.
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Magdalene
Guest
Wow, congratulations! That’s a cool story.
I’d ask the priest if you need to do any more paperwork, haha. Although I guess since she went through RCIA they were already aware of her marital status, so you’re probably good.
I’d ask the priest if you need to do any more paperwork, haha. Although I guess since she went through RCIA they were already aware of her marital status, so you’re probably good.
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KatyCatholic
Guest
Thanks! Was a great vigil mass. Yeah, that’s what I was thinking as well, thank you for the encouragement.
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