Interfaith Marriage and Baptisim

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Hello All to all of you that have offered me suggestions and support,
I wanted to give you an update as to how things are going…
The other night as I posted, I said I was going to use all I had gathered to have a calm, logical and hopefully meaningful disccusion with DH.
I told him how truly upset I was at the decision he made on his own and how could he tell me one thing pre marriage and change his mind later.
Here is what he had to say:
He told me that at the time he new that he had implied he would be ok with baptiszing Orthodox but that I was also aware that he did sign the statement of his intent to the best of his abilty to ensure Catholic rearing. He thought he would be ok with it . Now that I am actually pregnant and he will be a father he does not feel that he can follow through with our agreement. He feels that he must do his best to ensure that his child is rasied as a Catholic. He has apoligized for being so stern about it and not giving me an opportunity to understand his side.(as those of you who read my origianal post know he had pretty much put his foot down and refused any furthur disccussion on the matter).
He has assured me of several things, that 1 , he is not trying to assert power over me. 2, he is not being pressured my his family, and 3, he truley loves me and this baby and he only wants what he feels in his heart to be best for us. Even though I feel differently.
So here is the current outcome, DH feels he can not change his mind, I am still very confused and upset by this whole thing. At least we both can agree on one thing… this child will be baptized.
Anyone have some advise, suggestions, I am really very confused right now.
 
Remember that which ever Church the child is baptized into, the child will still be raised in the Faith. That is the most important value of all; everything else is secondary.
Let us hope and pray that within your child’s lifetime, the distinction between Catholic and Orthodox will have ceased to exist. Let us hope and pray.
 
I am sorry that the two of you underestimated the problems of a mixed religion marriage.

A Catholic is obligated to baptize and raise their children as Catholics. Greek Orthodox are obligated to do the same. There is no middle ground here.

Sorry, I have no advice to give you.
 
Agapi said:
Hello All to all of you that have offered me suggestions and support,
I wanted to give you an update as to how things are going…
The other night as I posted, I said I was going to use all I had gathered to have a calm, logical and hopefully meaningful disccusion with DH.
I told him how truly upset I was at the decision he made on his own and how could he tell me one thing pre marriage and change his mind later.
Here is what he had to say:
He told me that at the time he new that he had implied he would be ok with baptiszing Orthodox but that I was also aware that he did sign the statement of his intent to the best of his abilty to ensure Catholic rearing. He thought he would be ok with it . Now that I am actually pregnant and he will be a father he does not feel that he can follow through with our agreement. He feels that he must do his best to ensure that his child is rasied as a Catholic. He has apoligized for being so stern about it and not giving me an opportunity to understand his side.(as those of you who read my origianal post know he had pretty much put his foot down and refused any furthur disccussion on the matter).
He has assured me of several things, that 1 , he is not trying to assert power over me. 2, he is not being pressured my his family, and 3, he truley loves me and this baby and he only wants what he feels in his heart to be best for us. Even though I feel differently.
So here is the current outcome, DH feels he can not change his mind, I am still very confused and upset by this whole thing. At least we both can agree on one thing… this child will be baptized.
Anyone have some advise, suggestions, I am really very confused right now.
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I’m glad he’s let up on his tactic. Hey! I married a GREEK – and HE sounded just like your husband a LOT of the time when we first married! (Religion wasn’t an issue though, because we were both Episcopalians at the time: now Catholic). There were a lot of “I-am-the-king-of-the-Castle!” statements (ya gotta be old enough to remember Jackie Gleason for that one).

Maybe he should talk to his priest alone. This is a pastoral decision that must take into consideration the whole of your case.

Actually, I’m still thinkin’ that y’all oughtta take a second look at the Byzantine option. At least don’t rule it out before giving it a look. I tell ya, as a Latin Catholic, I could go Maronite in a heartbeat. (OK, that’s different, but you get my point.)
 
MercyGate,
I don’t really believe the "Eastern Rite " would really solve our dilema. We really don’t live anywhere near any “Eastern Rite churches” Even the Greek Orthodox church is not that nearby to where we live. We currently attend his RC church and rotate the drive out to my church on differening weeks. But even if we did do an Eastern Rite neither of us would really attend an Eastern Rite Parish and I don’t think that would be fair to this baby and any future babies to be baptized in a particular rite that we did not intend on participating in.(you married a Greek…I married an Italian and from what I hear they are all think headed!!!)
 
Agapi said:
MercyGate,
I don’t really believe the "Eastern Rite " would really solve our dilema. We really don’t live anywhere near any “Eastern Rite churches” Even the Greek Orthodox church is not that nearby to where we live. We currently attend his RC church and rotate the drive out to my church on differening weeks. But even if we did do an Eastern Rite neither of us would really attend an Eastern Rite Parish and I don’t think that would be fair to this baby and any future babies to be baptized in a particular rite that we did not intend on participating in.(you married a Greek…I married an Italian and from what I hear they are all think headed!!!)
Click to expand...
I hear you on all points.

I know it’s no consolation, but your problem is VERY common. Big help, huh? Hey! I’ll bet there are books out there on this subject. Why not google around and see what you can find.
 
RC here married to Coptic Orthodox (Married RC) Have 3 kids. Both of us practicing. He fasts/abstains etc… I signed a document to bring kids up RC, but remember well it incld reference that it should not be to the detriment of my marriage. We baptised the kids Catholic then Othodox. Not the ideal solution but his church doesn’t recognise my baptism and therefore our marriage and we like the vatican recognise the validity of each others eucharist. My children attend both churches however view themselves as Catholic.It may seem like Im ignoring rules .But I’ve met so so many people in my situation who have made the same decision as my husband and I. We attend masses, services as a family. I have found that in many countries where the eastern & western churches live side by side with each other, the interfaith families live with and are not seperated by the schisms that the hierarchies have created.
Listen to the Holy Spirit, be guided by the Holy Spirit. Only in and through the Holy Spirit can be a true Church.
 
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