Inter-Church marriage and growing together

[wanderingone]

Thanks all.

 

[Seatuck]

Their baptisms are with water and as part of it they explain that the baptism they perform is for the baptee to publicly show that they have chosen the walk with Christ to the rest of the church. With the father, son, and holy spirit etc…

Still can’t say I see anything wrong with that.

My wife and I have always stayed connected with spirit, through different paths. We were married very young and even through we’ve traveled through many paths, we’ve always found ways to grow together.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem possible without one or the other giving up their church, or what they are connected to, so that they can continue growing together, be engaged with each other, and be present in their walks together.

I understand the discomfort this causes. That is the essential problem with marriage to someone outside the faith. Eventually you come up to the edge of the canyon that separates you . You are not in union with Christs body to the extent that he calls us to be. It’s upsetting and not surprising that you would seek for ways to overcome it. I’m sorry for your pain but I stronly urge you not to give up the Catholic Faith.

A Catholic cannot participate in a “re- baptism”. This would publically reject your first and "only ’ necessary baptism. You say you can’t see the problem. I believe you. I think perhaps your love for your wife has been hiding the truth from you . You haven’t been able to see the differences. Or perhaps your earnest search for common beliefs has led you to see more than what is there. Again it is understandable. I’ve taken a moment to pray for you here. One of the things I’ve always known was that I needed to marry a Catholic and I did so. I’ve been married for 23 years. We’ve had ups and downs. We’ve grown together, we’ve grown apart. We have not always grown spiritually at the same pace. But it was comforting to know that we were headed in the same direction. It was the Eucharist and graces of the Church that fed us, bound us , strengthened us and enabled us to continue on in this journey. So I can understand the extra bit that Christ is asking of you in your marriage to a non Catholic .

I think you should study the Catholic Faith a bit deeper. We as Catholics take moments along the way to recommit ourselves to Christ. We renew our baptismal promises in our liturgies. We go to Confession to declare our contrition and accept our place as a son/daughter of God again. We do those things within our Church . It isn’t appropriate to make a declaration in community that we know is not part of our church. Baptists are separated bretheren. You know this. You can love them, be friends with them . Serve God with them but you cannot bind yourself to them on a liturgical level without losing a piece of your Catholicity.

 

[rinnie]

What you really need to do is know your Religion, know what your Church teaches. Then when you go to the other CHurch you will see the big differences. And trust me there are many huge ones. I like you married another faith, I knew I had to keep mine because once Catholic always Catholic, but I never made him change. But eventually he asked me the differences. At the time I really didnt know, now I do and wow. What a gift from God I was given from birth from my parents. The gift of the Catholic Faith. I did pass it on, and pray that will be the one thing that will passed on from generation to generation. That’s the family Tradition. Priceless Catholic Teachings. I pray every grand-chld etc. will inherit the Faith. IF so I am truely Blessed.

 

[funnyyetsavvy]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Believers_Baptism

 

[Ruthie]

Here’s the Catechism:

**1272 **Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.

Emphasis mine.

And here’s a line from the Wikipedia article Savvy mentioned:

An adult or teenager is baptized in response to his or her personal conviction (decision to follow Jesus Christ) and as admission into a local community of faith.

Again, emphasis mine.

If you do this believer’s baptism, you will be joining that church. You will no longer be a Catholic, because you cannot be a Catholic and join any other church.

There’s nothing wrong with following Jesus; Heavens, no! But if you are a Catholic, you are already doing so. He founded our Church!

Answering an “altar call” and/or doing a “believer’s baptism” is more than just showing your love for Jesus. It is indicating a desire to join that specific church.

Don’t do it!

Unless you want to stop being Catholic and become a Baptist.

God bless you and steer you right,

Ruthie