A Baptist and a Catholic

[Rebel4Christ]

I'm dating this wonderful girl we are having some problems outside of the reason of our faith. I was talking to my dad about it and he asked me about her faith. I told him that she is a Catholic, I am a Baptist. He thought that we shouldn't date her. I was wanting some other imput. Her dad is Baptist and mom is Catholic so I wanted to hear from other people. I ask for your prayers also.

 

[John the Engineer]

Protestant dating a Catholic here.

Look at her family, how're they doing? The only strange or "Bad" part is that the Catholic Church makes you swear you're going to raise the children Catholic. They don't want to lose your children, they won't care much about you becoming Catholic or not, but they don't want to lose lineage. I've known a LOT of marriages like this.

It's tough because then your (then) wife will start to feel guilty if the children aren't raised Catholic, and indeed the church will consider it a sin if she doesn't! They can also nullify the marriage (in the church, not in law) The Church is pretty hard on it, and I don't like it for the fact that they put the guilt and sin on the Catholic in the marriage, and so the non-Catholic can't really take their children to where they'll be "fed", or where they'll really meet the Lord.

As a Christian I can go wherever I want to meet the Lord. Even a Catholic Church! But you can't do that with your children, they're Catholic, bound to everything your wife believes. Is this ok with you? Otherwise, they're Christian just like you.

I think you need to study Catholicism more to receive your answer. Can you be married to someone who believes all that? I have a hard time stomaching a lot of what the Catholic Church believes, but I support anyone who does believe it and follows it. Unfortunately I've seen what the Catholic Church can bring down on Christian to Catholic-Christian marriages and it's sort of ugly sometimes for the Catholic. And very painful.

 

[Warrior Poet]

Both belivers of God.
The doctrine differences outtat keep it interesting.

Warrior Poet

 

[lucypevensie]

I think you should get the issue straightened out as soon as possible. What church will you go to, how will you raise children (presuming you get married some day). Personally I think you should both practice the same thing, if not for your own marrital harmony but for the security of your (presumed) kids. (...and I don't think little kids have the maturity/intellect to make their own choice regarding religion)

 

[Rebel4Christ]

thanks for your prayers but the issue what too big for her or I to overcome and we are no longer together. Please continue to pray for her as she has some unresolved issues with another ex she has.

 

[SlowRoasted]

maybe it was for the better then Just keep seeking God's guidance in finding the right lady.

 

[Echoes Peak]

Both belivers of God.
The doctrine differences outtat keep it interesting.

Warrior Poet

Sorry, that just amused me.

 

[Teal]

Any church that would say that they nullify any loving marrage woulnt be my church for very long.

 

[Echoes Peak]

I think you should get the issue straightened out as soon as possible. What church will you go to, how will you raise children (presuming you get married some day). Personally I think you should both practice the same thing, if not for your own marrital harmony but for the security of your (presumed) kids. (...and I don't think little kids have the maturity/intellect to make their own choice regarding religion)

Honestly, I think that sums it up best for me.

 

[Warrior Poet]

Sorry, that just amused me.

*tips hat

m'lady the pleasure was all mine.

Warrior Poet

 

[Echoes Peak]

 

[stubbornkelly]

There may some some "logistical" problems, and those should be worked out between you as a couple (which church would you go to, how you would raise children . . . those sorts of things), but the equally yoked issue is about your relationship with Christ, not your denomination.

 

[MusicMelOU]

Personally, I think as long as you both are Christian, then denomination should not matter. I do not declare a denomination for the reason of I think that some of us get so wrapped up in denomination that we miss the bigger picture; that we all (no matter what denomination) make up the body of Christ. I'm always hearing people of denomination x saying "oh I don't like denomination y because they (insert comment)". Not all denominations are the same, but I think it's because different people have different needs so Christ facilitates for that within his body. I hope that you look past the difference in denomination as far as keeping the relationship alive, because what it all boils down to is Jesus.

PS...My boyfriend is Catholic

 

[jamesrwright3]

I am a Catholic who is dating a former Catholic (she now goes to a non denominational Bible based church). As long as you both believe in the core Christian beliefs, I don't think it really matters.

 

[seekingsomething]

What about the same denomination but different beliefs?? (baptist, charasmatic or not?!?)

 

[Flynmonkie]

I think you should get the issue straightened out as soon as possible. What church will you go to, how will you raise children (presuming you get married some day). Personally I think you should both practice the same thing, if not for your own marrital harmony but for the security of your (presumed) kids. (...and I don't think little kids have the maturity/intellect to make their own choice regarding religion)

I agree as a Child raised in a Catholic/Fundemental Baptist home. I was guilty for everything! fight- fight- fight! Many a couple I know that ended in divorce over this.

My parents finally divorced after 26 years.

I however am neither of these two. I do however lean toward Protestant. But still do not classify myself other than that.

I pray that you take some time and talk with God about this. He will give you the answers you need. You just have to listen!

 

[jamesrwright3]

So it was a problem? That is beginning to concern me...my current gf and I who have thought about getting married do not plan on changing denominations..She is a former Catholic who became disillusioned...and I am a Catholic who is content with his faith...We do plan on having at least one child if we do tie the knot. I hope this won't be a major problem...Maybe I am just being too optimitics

 

[Stanfi]

If both of you are deeply committed to your faith, I believe that you will have some problems. The differences between Catholic and Protestant faiths are not slight by any means. I personally believe that if you are willing to compromise something that you believe in your heart to be true. Then you are putting someone else above God.

 

[HappyPrincess]

If both of you are deeply committed to your faith, I believe that you will have some problems. The differences between Catholic and Protestant faiths are not slight by any means. I personally believe that if you are willing to compromise something that you believe in your heart to be true. Then you are putting someone else above God.

This is pretty much where I came down on it -- if you are both committed to your faith, then Catholic and Baptist is too far apart for the "oneness" of marriage.

You two don't need to agree on EVERYTHING. But I wanted someone in my husband that I could trust to be my spiritual leader. Since I'm strong in what I believe in the Bible, to be able to trust him that way, I needed him to have similar beliefs so that, when we disagreed, I could trust that he was coming from a Biblical basis. And not be able to throw up in his face "that's just your church teaching" or whatever.

When you have a Catholic who is not really a strong Catholic. Or a Baptist who isn't strong (ie one or the other willing to "convert" and go the other way) I think it would work fine because you CAN come to know Jesus in both churches. (assuming both of you are Christians) But if you're both strong, then its going to lead to problems.

Marriage is hard enough as it is. No reason borrowing troubles going into it.

 

[*Miau*]

the only problem in a catholic/baptist relationship isn't just the faith/beliefs - it's also the doctrines. A thing like Baptism is quite different in those two churches.
I used to be a protestant - I was baptised when I was a two months old baby, and my parents said "yes" on my behalf. I've stopped going to my old protestant church, and I now go to a baptist church, a pentacostal church and a charismatic church (I'm trying to find out where I really belong) My boyfriend (who I want to marry) is a charismatic christian, and he doesn't believe in baptising children/babies. That will give us something to discuss when we want babies of our own. Doctrines can also be a problem in a mixed relationship, so the question is - how long are you willing to go in compromising your own beliefs?

God bless