What are the potential problems for Inter-Christian Marriage? Protestant with Catholic, Catholic with Orthodox, Orthodox with Protestant?

[SingleMomMonica]

I’m just curious what the potential problems are for these types of Inter-Marriages. If anyone know of a couple who’ve experienced problems or you are in a marriage with problems because of the Inter-Christian Marriage, please share.

When did it become a problem? Like for example, immediately or after the birth of a child or whatever?

What was the problem(s)?

How was the problem resolved?

If the problem could not be resolved, what was the outcome?

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

Well, I’m a child of an inter-religious marriage…which ended in divorce.

My dad is a Seventh Day Adventist and my mom is Roman Catholic…unlikely match huh …needless to say there were problems from the get go and like so many couples, they thought that having a baby would draw them closer together…enter me (and later my brother)…that caused even more problems b/c in what religion where they going to raise us? my mom is a very controlling dominating person and my dad isn’t very authoritative. He wanted us to go to a lutheran school although no one was lutheran…my mom wanted us to go to catholic school. She got her way and my dad let her raise us catholic…but he gave her pracitcally NO support in that area. He didn’t come to our baptisms although he was there when we were confirmed and received our first communions.

It wasnt just religion that my parents didn’t have in common though…they had completely different personalities…I describe them as oil and water…they didn’t mix at all!

they did counseling but that didn’t help much…they had horrible fights and weren’t very loving towards each other. They made the mistake of putting my brother and I in the center of the family instead of their marriage taking the center role…so we got used to being spoiled and that did a number on us. Finally they divorced almost 17 years after they were married. It was bittersweet b/c although it was more peaceful it was a broken home and it will continue to be…

 

[Lutheranteach]

I’m part of an interfaith marriage. We have had some bumps in the road, but nothing too major. I think the problems will be really based on:

A) How devout both parties are and
B) How closely related your denominations are

 

[KathleenGee]

You can’t pray much together, your kids are confused…you don’t have that spontaneity and joy to be on the go and attend the different church functions…and such a waning spiritual relationship can in time damage the faith of the Catholic, and probably the Protestant…you can’t do couples things with others of the same parish or church.

We have alot of cultural celebrations in the liturgical year, saints’ day, the marking of our homes on the feast of Epiphany, the use of holy water and placement of sacramentals–statues, wearing the crucifix and scapulars…novenas…having Masses said for deceased persons…the in-laws would question our concern to have Masses said for their loved ones…and the need to go to monthly confession…to the point one thinks it is negligence leading to sin to the other thinking you are making a mole hill out of nothing. Sad.

Alas the great divide. This is why so much I pray we all be one…it is just that in the Catholic culture, we do have alot…

 

[4Squarebaby]

The religious problems arise because one or both partners take the approach that “I am right, SO SAYETH THE LORD”, or “my Pope, my Pastor, my teacher, Rabbi, Iman, etc”

It is as if they don’t remember its about faith, not about proven fact, and most of the world sees things differently from you