Mixed marriage funerals

[tomch]

I’m a new Catholic convert, and my wife is a Baptist. I really have difficulties going to her church and hearing the “All you gotta do is say this simple prayer, and you’re saved once and for all” message. That’s what chased me OUT of that church, and into the Catholic Church. I never visit her church anymore - just can’t do it. (It also doesn’t help that Baptists ridicule Catholicism a lot.)

She was laughing tonight about what would happen if she died before me. Funerals at her church tend to have ultra heavy evangelistic thrusts. Knowing this, she said that she doubted if I would even attend her funeral if it were at her church.

Has anyone else had a similar situation - where a loved one died, and you didn’t know if you could stand to deal with the raw emotions of bereavement and the conflicts of faith at the same time? What did you do?

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

I’m a new Catholic convert, and my wife is a Baptist. I really have difficulties going to her church and hearing the “All you gotta do is say this simple prayer, and you’re saved once and for all” message. That’s what chased me OUT of that church, and into the Catholic Church. I never visit her church anymore - just can’t do it. (It also doesn’t help that Baptists ridicule Catholicism a lot.)

She was laughing tonight about what would happen if she ever died. Funerals at her church tend to have ultra heavy evangelistic thrusts. Knowing this, she said that she doubted if I would even attend her funeral if it were at her church.

Has anyone else had a similar situation - where a loved one died, and you didn’t know if you could stand to deal with the raw emotions of bereavement and the conflicts of faith at the same time? What did you do?

Let’s hope she sees the light long before then. Perhaps she’ll be taking communion at your funeral.

How’s that for a cheerful thought?!

 

[O.S.Luke]

I experienced it from the other side. My father-in-law, who was Catholic, died and his funeral mass was held on All Saints Day. My daughter (who is also United Methodist) and I attended along with my wife. I had to hold my daughter’s hand when she went up to receive the Eucharist and tell her that we needed to stay seated, since we were not Catholic. She said, a little too loudly, “But I’m baptized.”

My wife is now United Methodist. But in retrospect, I would never encourage a Catholic and non-Catholic to marry. It’s just too painful.