Mixed Marriages (One Catholic, the other not)

[S.to_P]

I would like to see how many people are in a mixed marriage on a religious basis and what POSITIVES it has brought the both of you.

How have you been able to reconcile the diversity of beliefs that have typically been difficult for Catholics and Protestants to overcome (i.e. Mary, praying to saints, “faith” and how it is understood from each side, the Eucharist, etc.). I would really enjoy those that are involved with a Bible/ non-denom, Baptist, Presbyterian, Church of God, etc.) the Fundy’s.

No insult to the Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopals, etc. Just wanting a different take.

 

[Catholicforlife]

I don’t fit into the group you were looking for but thought I would post anyway
My husband was raised as a nothing. Never baptized, never went to church (not even Christmas or Easter, so weird to me). Any who, I am a cradle Catholic. I was a dumb one but loyal. 6 years into our marriage my husband decided to convert. I was stunned. Our marriage has grown my leaps and bounds since. I feel like such a fool for marrying someone with no faith as I look back. Praise the Lord He corrected the situation for me. My husband being a non believer made me less apt to go to church and practice my faith. He thought some if what we did was pretty werid. I wasn’t very good at explaining either. Now that we are both faithful practicing Catholics, our marriage is what is what meant to be. It feels wonderful to know we are on the same page!

 

[Regi]

It has been awhile since someone posted here, but I thought I would give it a try and see if we can get this thread going again.

I have been married for 12 years to a man who is Lutheran. He is very active in his church, but I think my being active in mine has made him more active, and vice versa. We attend both churches each Sunday, his service and the Catholic Mass - we have done this most Sundays since before we married. Our children attend Sunday School at the Lutheran church until they are confirmed, which is 5th grade in our diocese. I do look at what they are learning and do damage control if and when necessary.

We married in the Catholic church without a Mass, and he agreed to allow our children to be raised Catholic.

He was married previously, so he went through the annulment process for me (us). His two children attended a local Lutheran school and our children attend our Catholic parish school. He helps out at the Catholic school/church at times, and I help with things at the Lutheran church at times. It has worked out pretty well for both of us.

BUT, if I had it to do over again, I would have looked harder for a Catholic to marry. Our biggest disagreements are religious issues - we will each throw up something about our religions to make each other angry. He did go through RCIA, but there are still too many blocks to him converting. He believes the things Luther protested about too strongly… He wants me to go through the training for Lutherans, but I have not done so - I told him he needs to attend with me, and he has not arranged it yet.
I will NEVER leave the Catholic church. I pray that someday he will see the light and come into the true church. My children pray for his conversion with their night prayers - he has heard them, but never has made any comment.

 

[reggie]

I am somewhat in this situation but only for a short time. I have been married to my husband for 16 years. We were married by a non-denom minister. My husband is a Bible believing non-church attending prostestant. I was at different times agnostic and even slightly atheistic but when we had children, we always spoke to them of God and Jesus. Sometimes we prayed, but we never read the Bible to them or anything like that. Several years ago after the death of my grandmother, while attending her funeral at the church of my childhood, I was touched by the Holy Spirit and returned to the Catholic church. I told my husband, who was somewhat anti-catholic, that I was taking our children to the local Catholic church. He did not protest even though I know he had plenty of reservations about this. They have now been baptized, receive Communion weekly and one has been confirmed. My husband does not attend mass with us but he is open to hearing the truth about the faith. He still has reservations, but I pray that one day he will come to the truth and convert. I cannot receive the Sacraments until our marriage has been blessed in the church but I attend weekly mass and am working on having this done. My husband says he will go through the blessing on my behalf but doesn’t feel it’s necessary and has a hard time with a church that would deny me the Sacraments. I understand his point of view, but also understand that the church is not a half measure or a cafeteria, I have accepted it all, part and parcel and will live under its beliefs and practices. There has been some tension due to these differing beliefs, but for the most part, he is supportive if a little offended when I get on my soapbox and try to convert him. If there is any positive, it is that whenever we get into religious discussions, we are both searching for the truth together and learning to live Christianity in our lives, so it has opened a whole new aspect to our relationship wherein we are leading and supporting each other in our love of God, through Jesus despite minor differences in doctrine.

 

[metal1633]

Catholicforlife:

INow that we are both faithful practicing Catholics, our marriage is what is what meant to be.

Keep Practicing. Practice makes perfect.