can my protestant/catholic relationship succeed?

[SusanneT]

As a Protestant married to a Catholic in a 'Catholic marriage' I have to say it can work but mike any marriage I guess it requires compromise. And my own view is that it's easier if the Catholic is the husband as that puts the more demanding, dogmatic faith with the dominant partner !

[Paddy1989]

Originally Posted by SusanneT

As a Protestant married to a Catholic in a 'Catholic marriage' I have to say it can work but mike any marriage I guess it requires compromise. And my own view is that it's easier if the Catholic is the husband as that puts the more demanding, dogmatic faith with the dominant partner !

[TheRealJuliane]

I think it's likely that she meant the spiritual leader of the home.

[joanofarc2008]

My mother is Protestant and my father is Catholic. They have been married over 35 years. The issue there is that my father let go of his Catholic faith for a great number of years and even stopped attending Mass. We were not raised Catholic. I am a convert. It was not until I started attending and one day had a very frank talk with my father and asked him why he had made the decision to forgo Catholic teaching and it came out that he did not know the Catholic teaching. A month later my grandfather died. I made one phone call to make sure that my father knew that he should go to confession before receiveing Eucharist at the funeral since he had not been attending Mass which he did. My father has been attending Mass ever since. No child should ever have to be in the position of ministering to one's parent. But sadly this is the age we are in. I am happy my dad has come home. I am happy for the times my dad and I have shared Eucharist. My mother may even be starting RCIA in the fall but it has taken this long. I tell you this so you know.

[mario s]

I'm a non-Catholic Christian married to a former Catholic. During early stages of dating, my wife was still a Catholic and we spent hours upon hours talking about our faith in God and our love for Jesus Christ. I attended a few Catholic services, and she visited my church. Before we married, my wife decided to join my church. We are united in our faith have never looked back since and now have a 2 year old daughter and another on the way. God has blessed us.

However, there have been challenges and hurtful times, specifically with my in-laws who are strong Catholics. Don't misunderstand me, I love them and respect them as they are my elders. But they did threaten not to attend our wedding if it wasn't held in a Catholic Church. They also said they would encourage friends and relatives not to attend - this hurt my wife deeply. So we married in the Church. They also refused to attend our baby daugher's dedication (where we dedicate and commit our daughter to God) at our church, despite our attendance to niece/nephews infant baptisms. We love our family and might have our own personal convictions on these things, but will still support them. Then there was the battle with the priest who originally didn't want to marry us. And more recently, insistence on Catholic education for our daughter, by my in-laws. Like I said, I love them and we generally have a good time together, but these choices are between me and my wife.

The most important thing in all of this is that my wife and I are united. And we do lots of praying!

Assuming you're both still dating, I would suggest that you both pray to God about your relationship, together and separately and see where God directs you. He'll open doors that need opening and close one's that don't.

[Dorothy]

Originally Posted by ashleyn

I am protestant and my boyfriend is catholic. When we first started dating I was sure this was going to cause a conflict but he assured me that because we both love and worship the same Jesus despite different sects, things would be ok. We have been dating for a time now and are realizing more and more that each of us is firm in our individual faiths. We are not lackluster Christians by any means however, this very passion that originally attracted us is now causing a rift. I have never been one to quit easy and I am just not ready to give up, I suppose I am just absolutely love sick. Is there any hope for common ground? or am I just striving for the unachievable

Please be aware that the children are big losers in the circumstances of a mixed marriage where both parents are strong in their respective faiths.

Catholics in good standing promise to raise their children in the Catholic faith when they marry someone in a Protestant faith. Ask yourself if that would bother you or not.

It is also true that most Protestants have misinformation of what Catholics really believe, and sometimes they do not want to hear it when a Catholic tries to explain.

[Syri]

It depends. tey CAN work though. My husband is Protestant and our religious beliefs have never caused so much as a ripple. we're both VERY deep in our individual faiths, but my husbands belief is that it doesnt matte what you call yourself, as long as you love the word of God and strive to follow Jesus. He loves learning about my faith, and I learn about his. He's always sticking up for me when someone pokes at my religion. he follows NFP with me, has no issues with our children being Catholic..I'm very blessed
How'd we do it? COMMUNIcATION. third date we were already talking about What If. What If we get married, will youy let our children be Catholic? Will you use NFP? will you allow me to marry in the church?

[Syri]

Originally Posted by Paddy1989

What, too anti-feminist for your tastes? Too bad.

[Dorothy]

Originally Posted by Syri

It depends. tey CAN work though. My husband is Protestant and our religious beliefs have never caused so much as a ripple. we're both VERY deep in our individual faiths, but my husbands belief is that it doesnt matte what you call yourself, as long as you love the word of God and strive to follow Jesus. He loves learning about my faith, and I learn about his. He's always sticking up for me when someone pokes at my religion. he follows NFP with me, has no issues with our children being Catholic..I'm very blessed
How'd we do it? COMMUNIcATION. third date we were already talking about What If. What If we get married, will youy let our children be Catholic? Will you use NFP? will you allow me to marry in the church?

Obviously there are rare instances where this does work. Communication is a rare gift that you have both received and used well. God bless....

[Paddy1989]

Originally Posted by Syri

What, too anti-feminist for your tastes? Too bad.

What??? There is no superior. Men and women are equal, different each containing a specific nature and Gift's which aid in their role however nonetheless they are equal. Our difference's complement each other. Human nature when both man and woman are joined become's one, why because the two essence's of it (male and female) unify. None is greater

[katolsk]

My parents were mixed, dad cath, mom prot. I am cath, my wife prot for over 11 years of wedded bliss. 6 months of marraige prep with a priest helped a ton. It never occured to me that there could be problems, and there aren't really about religion. If we fight it's more about domestic stuff or when one of us is stressed or tired. She attended mass with me before getting engaged and saw that Catholics don't have 2 heads, are joyful, and don't go around telling people they're going to hell, like many Protestants.

I hope my wife converts some day but if she never does, I won't love her any less.

[maepeterson]

Originally Posted by dedo

Ashleyn:

Everyone is different. Whether different religions work depends on the people involved and how much each person respects the beliefs of the other vs. trying to change the other.

My wife and I will celebrate our 25th anniversary this year. I am Catholic and she is Protestant.

Personally, although I don't miss Mass, I often try to go to a Protestant service as well because I enjoy them. Protestant multi-media is more extensive for people who like to listen to a CD on a trip.

I remember one story on a Catholic CD about a couple where the wife was a devout Catholic, and the husband was a radical atheist. Somehow, they respected each other's beliefs enough for the marriage to last until the wife died. She prayed for the conversion of her husband throughout her life. On her death bed, she had a revelation that her husband would be converted and would eventually become a priest.

Her prediction came true.

May I ask whether or not you have children and in what religion you have raised them?

[defenderoftruth]

If you are determined to stay Protestant and he Catholic and are serious about your faiths end it before it really begins. (marriage) If you marry him in a Catholic church which he is really required to do you MUST promise to raise the children Catholic and support your husband ie not bad mouth the Catholic Church or try to talk your kids into being Protestants.

A husband is supposed to be the head of the house and spiritual head. I'm having issues because I have an anti-Catholic husband and would like to be Catholic but I can't convert at this point and after talking to a priest about it (head of a priory of Dominican monks) I will either have to wait till he chooses to convert to the Catholic Church (I've been praying and will continue to pray) to convert myself or wait till my kids are grown to which he'll still be miffed about my choosing not to follow his "lead" but my kids will be old enough to deal with it hopefully. Because raising kids in a house where two people fervently hold differing views can be confusing and or hard on children. (not to mention the arguing that happens)

No offense but if I were him and my girlfriend were Protestant (even if you aren't anti-Catholic) if you were serious about your faith and unwilling to depart from it I would break up with you since my faith is so important to me and my children's future should be Catholic.

Don't do this to your kids...