I love a catholic girl

[Orthodox_Greek]

I am an orthodox chtistian of Greece 20 years old.I live in Athens.I love a Greek Catholic girl 20 years old too.In Greece catholics are 300.000 or 3% of 10 milions population and all Greek Catholics are very religious go every week in church olds and youngs and their religion is the most important in their live and build more Catholic churches again and again because are minority and they are very religious.Her parents come from Tinos and Syros two Greek Islands in Aegean sea who have got many catholic towns and villages.In Tinos 35% of total population of island are Catholics and in Syros 40% of total population of island are Catholics.She live in the Athens the capital of Greece who live 170.000 Catholics.I have relationship without sex of course with this Greek Catholic Girl…What say Catholic chutch about this?She call me to visit her catholic church but i dont know what say about this my Orthodox Church…And what say Greek Catholic Church about this Relationship?Has feature?

 

[Xystus]

I work with a Greek Orthodox guy who married a Catholic. He mentioned they had to marry in his Church because they might not recognize it or some such thing if they married in the Catholic Church. This is in the US though so I cant really speak to your cultural norms but i don’t believe either Church views this a “forbidden love” or anything like that.

 

[Lucretius]

I am an orthodox chtistian of Greece 20 years old.I live in Athens.I love a Greek Catholic girl 20 years old too.In Greece catholics are 300.000 or 3% of 10 milions population and all Greek Catholics are very religious go every week in church olds and youngs and their religion is the most important in their live and build more Catholic churches again and again because are minority and they are very religious.Her parents come from Tinos and Syros two Greek Islands in Aegean sea who have got many catholic towns and villages.In Tinos 35% of total population of island are Catholics and in Syros 40% of total population of island are Catholics.She live in the Athens the capital of Greece who live 170.000 Catholics.I have relationship without sex of course with this Greek Catholic Girl…What say Catholic chutch about this?She call me to visit her catholic church but i dont know what say about this my Orthodox Church…And what say Greek Catholic Church about this Relationship?Has feature?

Fortunately for you, there are very few differences between the beliefs and lifestyle of the Greek Catholics and Greek Orthodox, at least in America where I live, so no issues about how, say, how to approach religion in your relationship and how to raise children regarding religion will probably come up.

You will probably have to choose between joining a Greek Catholic parish and a Greek Orthodox one at some point. If she is more religious than you, you should probably join hers, and as a Catholic I obviously think that the parish in clear communion with Catholic Church is to be prefered.

However, strangers in the internet can only help so much: you two might want to talk to a couple of both Catholic and Orthodox priests, including your pastor and hers, as they can better consider your situation than us.

Anyway, congratulations!

Christi pax.

 

[Lucretius]

I work with a Greek Orthodox guy who married a Catholic. He mentioned they had to marry in his Church because they might not recognize it or some such thing if they married in the Catholic Church. This is in the US though so I cant really speak to your cultural norms but i don’t believe either Church views this a “forbidden love” or anything like that.

In my experience too the Eastern Catholic clergy tend to be more relaxed about these sort of situations than the Eastern Orthodox, at least in America.

Christi pax.

 

[Orthodox_Greek]

Fortunately for you, there are very few differences between the beliefs and lifestyle of the Greek Catholics and Greek Orthodox, at least in America where I live, so no issues about how, say, how to approach religion in your relationship and how to raise children regarding religion will probably come up.

You will probably have to choose between joining a Greek Catholic parish and a Greek Orthodox one at some point. If she is more religious than you, you should probably join hers, and as a Catholic I obviously think that the parish in clear communion with Catholic Church is to be prefered.

However, strangers in the internet can only help so much: you two might want to talk to a couple of both Catholic and Orthodox priests, including your pastor and hers, as they can better consider your situation than us.

Anyway, congratulations!

Christi pax.

Yes she ismore religious for me in Greece all Catholics are very more religious from Greek Orthodox because catholics are minority and their religion is the most important in their live…

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I am in the US so cannot speak to the situation in Greece. We can say that the Catholic Church is now very friendly to the Eastern Orthodox Churches, but the Orthodox Churches do not always feel the same about the Catholic Church. The current Patriarch of Constantinople is friendly to Catholics and often visits the Pope.

 

[chevalier]

She will have an obligation to do her best to bring your children up in the Catholic faith. This isn’t the same as an obligation to completely ride roughshod over you, but it’s still a pretty strong obligation that does not say ‘compromise’ or ‘do what you think is best in your situation’. This is why it’d be extremely difficult for a Catholic to have a marriage with someone who had a similar obligation in one’s own faith, where it would of course be hardly unusual for someone who was serious about his faith to also want to bring one’s children up in that faith, especially if believing that faith to be essential to salvation. This actually poses extreme practical difficulties, of which many people are not even aware. Praying for you right now. Hope it turns out for the best for the both of you.

 

[Orthodox_Greek]

In Greece all Catholics Greeks are very more religious of Orthodox Greeks msybe Catholics in Greece is minority i dont know.Some Orthodox Churches and ptiests for example Russia and oriental Orthodixs for example Egyptian Copts arent good with Catholics for wars Catholics against Orthodox Christians and Hunia.Patriarchate of Constaninople Vartholomeos is friend with Pope Francis but Orthodox Churches has got many Patriarchates Greek Orthodox Church has got patriarchate,Russian Orthodox Church has got Patriarchate…I think we are too young (20 years old) to talk about marriage but we can have more children some children become Catholics some Orthodox…We can do 2 marriage one catholic and one Orthodox.But we are too youngs fir marriage…

 

[chevalier]

I’ve got no good news for you, I’m afraid. Teaching some children to become Catholic and some to become Orthodox is not an option for a Catholic. Things like this feel awful at the beginning of a relationship, but they hurt even more when they pop up at a later stage. Probably better to think now than later. I would know something about this. I once had a relationship with a Catholic-turned-agnostic who at some point decided she couldn’t stand to have her children taught that some of the values she believed in were wrong, and obviously I was in no position to opt out of Christian morality for our future children. There was a lot of pain from that even several years after she broke up with me. Made me decide to think about such things earlier rather than later.

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

In Greece all Catholics Greeks are very more religious of Orthodox Greeks msybe Catholics in Greece is minority i dont know.Some Orthodox Churches and ptiests for example Russia and oriental Orthodixs for example Egyptian Copts arent good with Catholics for wars Catholics against Orthodox Christians and Hunia.Patriarchate of Constaninople Vartholomeos is friend with Pope Francis but Orthodox Churches has got many Patriarchates Greek Orthodox Church has got patriarchate,Russian Orthodox Church has got Patriarchate…I think we are too young (20 years old) to talk about marriage but we can have more children some children become Catholics some Orthodox…We can do 2 marriage one catholic and one Orthodox.But we are too youngs fir marriage…

Are you a devout Orthodox Christian? I only ask because if it’s not a huge deal for you, you could just go to her Church. She is Greek Catholic (Byzantine rite) and not part of a minority of Latin Catholics (Roman rite) correct? Would she be willing to go to your church occasionally but not receive the Eucharist? I only say that because Orthodox typically deny the Eucharist to non Orthodox, even Catholics although inter-communion does exist more than people think.

 

[Orthodox_Greek]

I n Grrece lived 270.000 Greek Roman Catgolics and 30.000 Greek Byzantine Catholics!Greek Byzantine Catholics are only thesanoliki a city in south Greece.All of other Greek Towns and islands are Greek Roman Catholic!My girlfriend is Greek Roman Catholic not Greek Byzantine Catholic!

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

I n Grrece lived 270.000 Greek Roman Catgolics and 30.000 Greek Byzantine Catholics!Greek Byzantine Catholics are only thesanoliki a city in south Greece.All of other Greek Towns and islands are Greek Roman Catholic!My girlfriend is Greek Roman Catholic not Greek Byzantine Catholic!

Ah, ok then…well that makes things a bit more complicated I think. Lots of traditions are different as are the liturgies … is she interested at all in byzantine Christianity ? Are you interested in western christianity? There are ways to make it work and I know of several orthodox/roman catholic couples, but it does require a lot of compromise . My prayers are with you both

 

[Klemens_Hadwig]

I am an orthodox chtistian of Greece 20 years old.I live in Athens.I love a Greek Catholic girl 20 years old too.In Greece catholics are 300.000 or 3% of 10 milions population and all Greek Catholics are very religious go every week in church olds and youngs and their religion is the most important in their live and build more Catholic churches again and again because are minority and they are very religious.Her parents come from Tinos and Syros two Greek Islands in Aegean sea who have got many catholic towns and villages.In Tinos 35% of total population of island are Catholics and in Syros 40% of total population of island are Catholics.She live in the Athens the capital of Greece who live 170.000 Catholics.I have relationship without sex of course with this Greek Catholic Girl…What say Catholic chutch about this?She call me to visit her catholic church but i dont know what say about this my Orthodox Church…And what say Greek Catholic Church about this Relationship?Has feature?

Orthodox Greek,

Unless I missed something, I must ask you why you love this girl? What qualities attracted you to her? From what I have read, you appear more attached to love itself than this young woman, unless she has an extraordinary quality that you have not described in your posts.
You also seem to hint that she is more devout than you are. Perhaps you find her religiousness attractive?

Based on what you have written, let me make the following suggestion. First, identify your own qualities and priorities. That will make it easier to find a compatible girl. First hint, you are a Right-Believer (Orthodox), so perhaps try to find another Orthodox girl. If religiousness attracts you, then go to All-Night-Vigil at any Orthodox Church near you (usually during Saturday evenings). In my experience, parishoners who attend the Vigil in addition to Divine Liturgy are generally more devout. Generally, I would encourage you to attend an Orthodox parish and strengthen your own faith before going to a Latin liturgy with your girlfriend. Don’t be discouraged. Thankfully, Greece has more Orthodox Christians than Latin Catholics, so finding a compatible Orthodox girl that you like should be easier than looking for another Latin girl.

 

[twf]

I’ve got no good news for you, I’m afraid. Teaching some children to become Catholic and some to become Orthodox is not an option for a Catholic. Things like this feel awful at the beginning of a relationship, but they hurt even more when they pop up at a later stage. Probably better to think now than later. I would know something about this. I once had a relationship with a Catholic-turned-agnostic who at some point decided she couldn’t stand to have her children taught that some of the values she believed in were wrong, and obviously I was in no position to opt out of Christian morality for our future children. There was a lot of pain from that even several years after she broke up with me. Made me decide to think about such things earlier rather than later.

I don’t know what the norms are in Greece, but I am fairly certain that in the US special concessions are made for Catholics married to Orthodox Christians. For one, the ceremony is typically Orthodox as Orthodox authorities may not recognize a Catholic wedding. It can also be agreed to raise the children Orthodox. The OP should discuss the situation with both an Orthodox and Catholic priest.

 

[chevalier]

I don’t know what the norms are in Greece, but I am fairly certain that in the US special concessions are made for Catholics married to Orthodox Christians. For one, the ceremony is typically Orthodox as Orthodox authorities may not recognize a Catholic wedding.** It can also be agreed to raise the children Orthodox**. The OP should discuss the situation with both an Orthodox and Catholic priest.

The bolded part doesn’t sound right. Simply put, religion shopping for the offspring isn’t good. This is an entirely separate issues from externals such as following the Orthodox rite and getting the ceremony officiated by an Orthodox priest (no double weddings and no mixed celebrants).

 

[Anthony_Perlas]

I am an orthodox chtistian of Greece 20 years old.I live in Athens.I love a Greek Catholic girl 20 years old too.In Greece catholics are 300.000 or 3% of 10 milions population and all Greek Catholics are very religious go every week in church olds and youngs and their religion is the most important in their live and build more Catholic churches again and again because are minority and they are very religious.Her parents come from Tinos and Syros two Greek Islands in Aegean sea who have got many catholic towns and villages.In Tinos 35% of total population of island are Catholics and in Syros 40% of total population of island are Catholics.She live in the Athens the capital of Greece who live 170.000 Catholics.I have relationship without sex of course with this Greek Catholic Girl…What say Catholic chutch about this?She call me to visit her catholic church but i dont know what say about this my Orthodox Church…And what say Greek Catholic Church about this Relationship?Has feature?

Congrats. She seems unique.

I would find common ground. Join the Traditional Latin Mass community. It’s like the center mediator. It’s both in Latin so you both don’t understand it.

Praying to St. Raphael also helps.

 

[twf]

The bolded part doesn’t sound right. Simply put, religion shopping for the offspring isn’t good. This is an entirely separate issues from externals such as following the Orthodox rite and getting the ceremony officiated by an Orthodox priest (no double weddings and no mixed celebrants).

It is more black and white when it involves the marriage of a Catholic with a Protestant or a non-Christian. With the Orthodox, there seems to be more flexibility. See here: usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/ecumenical/orthodox/pastoral-orthodox-catholic-marriage.cfm