Should I even consider dating a guy from another denomination?

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Isaiah45_9 said:
Nah, we Catholic men need our Catholic wives to helps us get through life 😃
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AMEN TO THAT!

It is acceptable to date and marry non-Catholics (as several other posters have said).

What you need to consider, though, is the purpose of dating the individual. If your intention is to find the person you will be with the rest of your life then faith is an important discussion that needs to happen early on.

You need to ask questions about his beliefs and if they are different you need to determine if that’s a challenge you’re prepared to face for the rest of your life. Are you willing to deal with the issues of raising children in a mixed household? Are you willing to go to mass alone every week?

There are many questions that need to be asked about mixed-faith relationships.
 
I was born and raised presbyterian. I married a Catholic. On my own I started to question the faith. And read everything I could get my hands on about it including this site. One day about 2 years ago I surprised him (gently cause it was out of the blue for him) and told him I wanted to become Catholic too. I have never been happier and never seen him happier, although we both thought life was good before, we had no idea what we were missing.
He went through RCIA with me last year. I’m certainly glad he took a chance in me.
 
CatholicHockey7 said:
AMEN TO THAT!

It is acceptable to date and marry non-Catholics (as several other posters have said).

What you need to consider, though, is the purpose of dating the individual. If your intention is to find the person you will be with the rest of your life then faith is an important discussion that needs to happen early on.

You need to ask questions about his beliefs and if they are different you need to determine if that’s a challenge you’re prepared to face for the rest of your life. Are you willing to deal with the issues of raising children in a mixed household? Are you willing to go to mass alone every week?

There are many questions that need to be asked about mixed-faith relationships.
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My mother went to mass with my dad. When we came along she joined us sometimes. Growing up I never felt my parents were at odds over faith. My mother had to sign a paper stating she would raise us Catholic. She said she didn’t make tbat as a promise to the Catholic Church…ratber she made it to God. She was the one who met with the parish priest and asked questions as my siblings and I went tbrougb tbe sacraments. The signing of tbd paper is no lonver done. My parents were married at tbe edge of tbe first pew. Because my mother was not Catholic they couldn’t be married at tbe altar. Of course tbat is no longer done.
 
dlobrien said:
Is it ok to date somebody from another denomination of Christianity? I know I won’t ever convert from Catholicism.
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No guarantees which ever way you go, but it would be better if you stuck to Catholic boys if you can find one who practices his faith.

Linus2nd
 
People change, grow, gain faith, and sometimes lose faith. You have no idea if, ten years down the road, your Catholic husband may decide he’s agnostic. I think that preemptively limiting yourself to dating only Catholics may cut you off from very good people. If you’re dating someone who respects you and your faith (and why would you date someone who did not?), the rest will flow from that. With mutual respect, most religious differences can be worked out, should you marry and have children. To me, respect is far more important than the religion someone currently identifies with (provided it’s not Satan worship or somesuch nonsense), when you’re determining whether you should date someone.
 
LegoGE1947 said:
The Catholic Church is NOT a denomination. There were no denominations until the Protestant revolt. The Catholic Church was the only church for the first 1500 years of Christendom
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In Western Europe. The Eastern Orthodox , Oriental Orthodox, and Assyrian Church of the East existed long before the Reformation.
 
My parents represent a mixed marriage of Catholic (Dad) and Disciples of Christ (Mom). I don’t know what was agreed to/required in marriage prep. but I was not raised in the Catholic Church, but rather my parents let me decide for myself which Church to join. Around the age of 8 I decided to be baptized, and did so in the church I attended most often, the Disciples church. Now, in my early twenties, I’m strongly considering converting to Catholicism. There were definitely some negative aspects of being a mixed faith family (until fairly recently none of us were very involved in our churches beyond going to worship on Sunday), but on the other hand my parents are still married all these years later and we all still love each other. “The family that prays together stays together” is really just more of a saying than anything else from my experience. I think the love you have for the Lord, and each other, is more important than dating/marrying within your church.

On a side note: my cousin just married a very nice Catholic girl. He was baptized Disciples of Christ as a child, and then later became a Mormon as an adult…and I’m not really sure what he believes/belongs to today. At any rate the two of them seem very happy together so far.
 
dlobrien said:
Is it ok to date somebody from another denomination of Christianity? I know I won’t ever convert from Catholicism.
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I think there is nothing wrong with it, however I wouldn’t leave religious differences as something undiscussed. I wouldn’t let it become the elephant in the room. There will be many issues throughout a marriage where both will have to lay their cards on the table and work through their differences, I believe religion should be no different and good practice at that for future issues that may arise.

God Bless

Thank you for reading
Josh
 
JonNC said:
My daughter had a discussion of this type with a young man who is Baptist. She simply asked, if we were married and had children, would you allow them to be baptized as infants. He said no. They are now just good friends.

I think it depends on the communions involved. I have a childhood friend whose mom was Lutheran and dad was Catholic. They worked it out quite well. But it has to be worked out ahead of time.

Jon
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Jon hits the nail on the head: What to do with the children? Only way to find out is ask.
 
I don’t think we should avoid dating people from other Christian denominations, or even, non-Christians or atheists. Christ is open to all, and so should we be. We are called to lead others to Heaven, rather than to play safe and stick ‘our own’.

A non-believer may well end up being lead to Heaven through the example of his or her spouse. We are here to spread the Gospel (through our actions as well as our words) and lead others to Jesus. I believe the example of my wife and how she lives her life has helped steer me back to the right path.

So should you consider dating a non-Catholic? Yes, most definitely you should consider it. And if it came to marriage (and that is a long way down the line from dating) then so long as the spouse was prepared to be married in a Catholic ceremony and allow any children to be baptised and brought up as Catholic, then there may be very good reasons for marrying a non-Catholic. But don’t go asking this on the first date! :eek: Unless you want the other person to run a mile from you.
 
When I was single, I prayed every day for my future husband. I had a frank conversation with the Lord that I would not date a non-Catholic so that I would honor God with my marriage and family life as a Catholic marriage. If the person was not Catholic, God needed to take care of that first. God took care of those things. Actually when my husband and I were talking about marriage, he’s the one who said that there would be no artificial contraception and that we should look into natural family planning. I was not prepared for that, but one step at a time, we got engaged and married. He was stronger and more solid in his faith than I was, and I have God to thank.

When children are growing up, there is nothing like a father that models his faith as a Catholic man. They see him standing in line to go to confession. They see him shut off the tv and hold a rosary in his hand. He has the kids kneel at their bed to pray and does the sign of the cross to bless them at bed time and other important moments. He has religious articles in the house, certainly including the Blessed Mother. My husband, before we were married, enjoyed reading the Little Flowers of St. Francis to me since I was not familiar with them. They are now on line here: ccel.org/ccel/ugolino/flowers.iii.html Imagine a dad reading these to his children. A father modeling the Catholic faith is a strong pillar for the marriage and family life. A rock to build a home on.

Why would anyone want to put all these wonderful things aside for the most important person in their life, their life partner? I did not. This decision will affect your children and your grandchildren. Pray very hard about this.
 
LegoGE1947 said:
The Catholic Church is NOT a denomination. There were no denominations until the Protestant revolt. The Catholic Church was the only church for the first 1500 years of Christendom
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Except for the Orthodox, Copts, Ethiopians Assyrians, Cathars, Moravians,Lollards, and a few others. But yes, excluding all the others the Catholic Church wads all there was. Butt that’s a lot of excluding to BE able to claim the Catholic Church was “the only” for 1500 years… kind of a “revisionist” history going on there.
 
Publisher said:
Except for the Orthodox, Copts, Ethiopians Assyrians, Cathars, Moravians,Lollards, and a few others. But yes, excluding all the others the Catholic Church wads all there was. Butt that’s a lot of excluding to BE able to claim the Catholic Church was “the only” for 1500 years… kind of a “revisionist” history going on there.
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Fair points. Would you at least concede that we were the first and are the oldest Christian Church? 🙂
 
There is no cut and dry yes or no answer to this question. You need to pray and discern if you would be okay dating and possibly marrying a non Catholic. For me I have never had being Catholic as a must have on my list of qualities in a man I was dating, I think that has more to do with the fact that I am a convert and I still do attend church services and events with my parents and friends who are non Catholic sometimes. I could see myself having a lot in common with someone that is Catholic or non Catholic if that makes sense. We all have to discern what things are most important to us, I have always been staunch that I don’t date atheists or agnostics for example.
 
If I could throw this topic into a bit of a deeper tangent, if denominations is not to be used then what is the proper word to use in the following to describe two men – one who is a Methodist and one who is a Catholic:

They are of different [blanks].

I understand Catholics not wanting to use “denominations” but I can’t think of a better word to use. “Churches” is going to get misinterpeted. “Sects” gives a very wrong impression. “Faiths” makes it sound like the difference between different religions (e.g. Islam vs. Christianity). Is there a single word that succinctly explains what is meant other than “denominations”?
 
dlobrien said:
Is it ok to date somebody from another denomination of Christianity? I know I won’t ever convert from Catholicism.
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Basically, No. If you are serious about your faith and practicing it as well as raising your children in it, then you need to stick to dating Catholics that share you commitment to the church. While you have others on this thread here that are giving examples of where a mixed Catholic/Protestants marriage worked, there are more problems and issues than happy endings. While I realize that there might not be good choices available in the Catholic market, don’t fall into the temptation of looking to date outside the Church. Marriage is challenging enough and to start the marriage out with a major difference only adds to potential of problems which you don’t need. The mixed Catholic/Protestant marriages that I’ve known that seemed to be successful is where the Protestant is not that strong in their faith or practice and seems to go along with the Catholic. Where it doesn’t work out is where the Protestant is strong in their denomination, it is somewhat anti-Catholic and they an extended family that is equally strong and pushy.
 
JonNC said:
Though quite off the topic, where did I use the term denomination?

Jon
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JonNC,

True, you did not use the term denomination, however, you also did not mention that Catholic CHurch is or isn’t a denomination. I would like to know where you and your Lutheran church stand on that?

By the way everything here get off the topic. :eek:

Ufam Tobie
 
dlobrien said:
Is it ok to date somebody from another denomination of Christianity? I know I won’t ever convert from Catholicism.
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Dlobrien,

Perhaps you should not be a nursing student @ a Protestant University lol I am guessing thats where you met?

The best thing is to date someone who has your same beliefs someone who you can go to Mass and receive the Most Blessed Eucharist with, pray the rosary together, you know share your Catholic Faith with.

I know you are probably saying: It is only a date, for crying out loud, I did not say I was planning on getting married. But what is dating for? Dating is to find ones future wife / husband therefore dating is very, very important. If you want to buy a car, will you test drive a horse and buggy?

Many here want to be “politically correct” and say:“I have a childhood friend whose mom was Lutheran and dad was Catholic. They worked it out quite well”. I say Good for them, however truth is will, it workout for you?

Oh by the way The Catholic Church is not a denomination:)

Ufam Tobie
 
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