Unequally Yoked

[Faith1960]

How many here are married to someone who doesn’t share their Catholic faith, by either being a member of another church or not attending any church, whatsoever?
I’m married to a fallen away Baptist who doesn’t worship anywhere, with the exception of joining me at Mass upon occasion. He has absolutely no interest in the Catholic faith, but sometimes goes with me to Mass because he knows how happy it makes me.
How do you deal with this? How does it affect your relationship?

 

[Gerry_Hunter]

First, it is good he wants to please you by doing this.

Second, there’s perhaps room for some patience here. My wife was not Catholic when we married (in the Church), and did not have a demoninational affiliation. She did occasionally go to Mass with me. And eventually, she was received into the Church. We’d been married 35 years when that happened.

Blessings,

Gerry

 

[Publisher]

I have some close friends…they’ve been married for almost 50 years. She is Catholic and he is Russian Orthodox…to preserve their marriage due to family struggles on both sides of their family…they chose to attend the Episcopal church. They switch off when Easter in both east and west coincide on the same date…they usually attend the Orthodox church for Easter…I have no idea what they do concerning their respective sacraments on the holy days…but each Sunday they both commune at the Episcopal church.

I know the Catholics and the Orthodox have issues with their decision to attend TEC…so did each of their respective families…they chose to preserve their marriage and raise their three children in TEC…and let them decide if they wished to convert ot EO or RCC as adults…so far all three kids have remained and married in TEC.

 

[twinc]

The restriction is not against being yoked with a Christian but being unequally yoked with an unbeliever or nonchristian - twinc

 

[cleobanzj]

I am married to a muslim. Talk about unequally yoked! The first few years of our marriage were difficult. It was not because he stopped me from attending mass. It was more because I felt like I am doing something for which my husband does not want to be part of. However, the power of prayer helped tremendously. It was in prayer that I understood that my relationship with my Lord is paramount. I used to feel guilty when I go to mass, but prayer made the guilt go away. Nowadays, I take my children to mass with me, husband or no husband.

It was also in prayer that my oldest child was baptized and was allowed to participate in his first holy communion. At a time when I think that I can no longer do anything, I offer it up to the Holy Spirit. My prayers have always been answered. I am now praying for the baptism of my second child. My husband’s outlook has changed. He is happy to have my baby baptized. Talk about what the Spirit can do!

I love you Jesus.

 

[Glico]

I am married to a muslim. Talk about unequally yoked! The first few years of our marriage were difficult. It was not because he stopped me from attending mass. It was more because I felt like I am doing something for which my husband does not want to be part of. However, the power of prayer helped tremendously. It was in prayer that I understood that my relationship with my Lord is paramount. I used to feel guilty when I go to mass, but prayer made the guilt go away. Nowadays, I take my children to mass with me, husband or no husband.

It was also in prayer that my oldest child was baptized and was allowed to participate in his first holy communion. At a time when I think that I can no longer do anything, I offer it up to the Holy Spirit. My prayers have always been answered. I am now praying for the baptism of my second child. My husband’s outlook has changed. He is happy to have my baby baptized. Talk about what the Spirit can do!

I love you Jesus.

I believe everyone of us have our own battles to fight every day. Being ‘unequally yoked’ just makes it much more difficult because it threatens to separate your most important link in life - to God.

Without this link, you basically are on your own. Since you are UN-fortunately married to a muslim, I need to warn you of one very important thing.

YOU WILL HAVE NO INHERITANCE FROM YOUR MUSLIM HUSBAND (under the islamic syariah laws).

You must make preparation for that day when your husband leaves you with NOTHING. Either by way of a very simple divorce procedure (known as Talaq) or by his death. Either way, you will have no right of claim to his possession. Many women do not know this until it is way too late. Marrying into islam means certain death. Not the physical kind, but the social, mental & spiritual.

.

 

[Faith1960]

I am married to a muslim. Talk about unequally yoked! The first few years of our marriage were difficult. It was not because he stopped me from attending mass. It was more because I felt like I am doing something for which my husband does not want to be part of. However, the power of prayer helped tremendously. It was in prayer that I understood that my relationship with my Lord is paramount. I used to feel guilty when I go to mass, but prayer made the guilt go away. Nowadays, I take my children to mass with me, husband or no husband.

It was also in prayer that my oldest child was baptized and was allowed to participate in his first holy communion. At a time when I think that I can no longer do anything, I offer it up to the Holy Spirit. My prayers have always been answered. I am now praying for the baptism of my second child. My husband’s outlook has changed. He is happy to have my baby baptized. Talk about what the Spirit can do!

I love you Jesus.

I’m so glad for you that your husband is on board with having your kids baptized.

 

[Hesychios]

YOU WILL HAVE NO INHERITANCE FROM YOUR MUSLIM HUSBAND (under the islamic syariah laws).

.

What you say may be true in some countries, like Nigeria, Iran and Saudi Arabia, but in the USA and China the spouse’s interests will be protected quite a bit better.

People in that situation should make sure they have their wills drawn up (assuming a loving and caring relationship, and not an abusive one, this should not be a difficulty).

I wouldn’t want to be in a mixed marriage with a Muslim in a Shariah nation, that would be seriously challenging.