Quesion about inter faith marriage

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stephanie229

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Hello!

I have a lengthy question regarding interfaith marriage and how the church sees it effecting the rest of your life.

My father-in-law was a very religious man (Irish Catholic) who was born in 1929 and married a Prodestant in 1950. He religiously brought his children to church and tried to express the importance of his faith.

He died of pancreas cancer at the age of 42, and left my husband, 10 months old at the time, to be raised by his mother.

He had 3 other children, ages 18, 16 & 15. His eldest was escorted to his fathers casket in handcuffs because he was a troubled youth, who died 4 short years later.

His second son, has had a lifetime of acoholism.

His daughter, has many problems and failed marriages.

My husband who was the 10 month old, was brought to the Prodestant Church for awhile but that faded quickly.

Not one of them maintained their Catholic teachings.

Contact was lost with the parents of the deceased when my husband was around 2 or 3, which coincides with her also starting a long term relationship with a married man and taking her youngest son to the Prodestant Church.

At the viewing it is rumored that his parents were quite upset and were heard saying “she killed him” or something to that effect, which sounds off the wall, but leads me to my question.

Could devout catholics especially at that time, feel that their son’s life was ruined and taken from them early by the marriage with the Prodestant? Hence, the remarks at the wake?

Could contact have ceased when the relationship with the married man commenced in the sight of their young grandson who was being taken to a Prodestant church, though baptised in the Catholic Church? Which situation would have upset them the most?

I know this is a very serious matter, and my husbands devout catholic family has been virtually hidden from him his entire life. We would like to know the possible beliefs the church may have pertaining to the future of his then 20 year old father, to warrant such comments.

From what I gather from the older siblings, the grandparents did not dislike their mother at all, and it was not a strained relationship. But they did know that it was no good of the Catholic to marry their mother.

Thank you so much for your help.
 
To be honest I can’t really follow what you are asking or trying to say so I’ll just focus on the topic.
I was a Protestant (Methodist) when I married my Catholic wife. After 10 years of marriage and my wife’s daily prayers I converted to the Catholic Faith. For me then an inter-faith marriage was the best thing that ever happened to me.
 
Hello!

I have a lengthy question regarding interfaith marriage and how the church sees it effecting the rest of your life.

My father-in-law was a very religious man (Irish Catholic) who was born in 1929 and married a Prodestant in 1950. He religiously brought his children to church and tried to express the importance of his faith.

He died of pancreas cancer at the age of 42, and left my husband, 10 months old at the time, to be raised by his mother.

He had 3 other children, ages 18, 16 & 15. His eldest was escorted to his fathers casket in handcuffs because he was a troubled youth, who died 4 short years later.

His second son, has had a lifetime of acoholism.

His daughter, has many problems and failed marriages.

My husband who was the 10 month old, was brought to the Prodestant Church for awhile but that faded quickly.

Not one of them maintained their Catholic teachings.
This may be the cause of their problems regardless of their mother’s faith.
Contact was lost with the parents of the deceased when my husband was around 2 or 3, which coincides with her also starting a long term relationship with a married man and taking her youngest son to the Prodestant Church.
There could be any number of reaons for losing contact.
At the viewing it is rumored that his parents were quite upset and were heard saying “she killed him” or something to that effect, which sounds off the wall, but leads me to my question.
Don’t go into rumors.
Could devout catholics especially at that time, feel that their son’s life was ruined and taken from them early by the marriage with the Prodestant? Hence, the remarks at the wake?
Could they? Of course they could.
Did they? that would be anyone’s guess.
Could contact have ceased when the relationship with the married man commenced in the sight of their young grandson who was being taken to a Prodestant church, though baptised in the Catholic Church? Which situation would have upset them the most?
Again. Anything “could” be the reason. It’s impossible to know without knowing the people involved.
I know this is a very serious matter, and my husbands devout catholic family has been virtually hidden from him his entire life. We would like to know the possible beliefs the church may have pertaining to the future of his then 20 year old father, to warrant such comments.
As far as the Church at that time. Pre-Vat II, the parish and family would have frowned on interfaith marriages, but they certainly weren’t unheard of. As always the Church would have wanted assurances that the children would be raised catholic.
From what I gather from the older siblings, the grandparents did not dislike their mother at all, and it was not a strained relationship. But they did know that it was no good of the Catholic to marry their mother.
Thank you so much for your help.
My guess it is going to be difficult for anyone to answer your question given the broad scope and our limited information and insight into the particular family.
As to the question of the church’s views on interfaith marriage at that time, as I said above, my understanding is that the Church was a bit more insular in those days. They would have tried to discourage an interfaith marriage. Sometimes the non-catholic party would convert in order to remove the “impediment”.

I would say that in your case, The catholic family was, at least, concerned that their son married an non-catholic, but that they accepted her and their children with Love.
It would be most diffiult to say why contact was lost after the father’s death. I don’t put much stock in rumors.

Has your husband tried to contact any of these relatives?

Peace
James
 
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