I'm protestant - If I married a Catholic...?
106121
If you want to get married in a catholic church, you will be given all kinds of "conditions" and have to jump through all kinds of hoops to satisfy the priest.  Even after you jump through all the hoops, he might refuse to let you actually walk up the aisle, you might have to stand at the back of the church and get married there.  And the priest also might look and see how much your fiance has donated, and if it is not enough, he might still might not do the ceremony until your fiance satisfies his greed.\n\nUpdate to david_in_mil...:  My brother was one of the people I know that went through it.  He and his wife did all the nonsense the priest demanded, then he told them he would not marry them because he looked at the ledger, and saw no donations from him or his wife.  When they explained that she did not like using envelopes and simply put the money in the collection basket, he said she had no proof, and until they met his price, no wedding.  They went to an Episcopal church and were married there - no nonsense, no problems.
601540
Catholics can arrange with priest and minister to co-officiate a wedding ceremony, even if it is at the Protestant church. You must discuss the arrangements well in advance with the priest. \n\nThe love we have for one another is not the same as the love between a husband and wife. One is a commandment, and the other is a sacred covenant, a sacrament.\n\nFor a mixed marriage, refusing the other's right to have a Catholic wedding of whatever form is a serious spiritual imposition. On the other hand, the non-Catholic has nothing to lose by having it done in a Catholic church. The "idols" will not eat you. :0\n\nSince it doesn't seem to really matter to you what church is the true church for you, there would be no logical impediment to having the wedding in the oldest church on the planet, other than plain prejudice.\n\nSome Protestant churches have no sacraments, most have 2. Catholicism upholds Matrimony as of the Seven Sacraments. If it is done outside the Church, sure, its a marriage, but not a sacramental marriage.  As a consequence, that Catholic cannot receive any of the sacraments until the marriage is convalidated (erroneously known as "blessed"). That is why demanding a Catholic to marry outside the Church is so unfair. \n\nI have heard a theologian say that Matrimony is higher calling than Ordination. Hmm... \n\nI have also heard that over 90% of mixed marriages fail in divorce. Hmm...\n\nI don't think she parted from you so much over religion though. I think she parted from you by the way you handle conflicts, judging by your question. \n\nI admire her courage.
198558
First, I am a fellow Roman Catholic.  I am also a Knight of Columbus, which should tell you my devotion to the Catholic faith.  Now, to the question:\n\nHave you ever hear the logic example that says, every square is a rectangle, but not every rectangle is a square?  The same applies.  Every Catholic is a Christian, but not every Christian (those whose religions refer to themselves as it, anyway) is a Catholic.  The difference here is Protestantism.  Protestants (Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostals, Baptists, etc.) all call themselves Christians, but would be lothe to be referred to as Catholics.  Here are the main differences:\n\n1) Catholics believe that St. Peter was the first Pope, and the line of Popes runs from him down to our current pontiff, Benedict XVI.  Protestants do not recognize the authority of the Pope.\n\n2) Catholics believe in 7 sacraments, which are Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders (priesthood), and Annointing of the Sick (aka Last Rights).  Different protestant religions take out different sacraments, depending on how they were founded.  Martin Luther did not fully believe the Eucharist became the Body of Christ, so they do not fully consider it a sacrament.  Baptists only celebrate 2, baptism and confirmation.  They do not consider marriage to be sacramental.  This is one of the big disputes...Catholics believe marriage is a sacrament, so divorce is not possible.  Annulment, if you have heard of it, simply states that the sacrament never happened...it does not break a sacrament.  NOTHING can break a sacrament.\n\n3) As you mentioned, Catholics believe in the intercession of Saints.  That means that you can ask different Saints to pray to God for you, and God can allow them to help you do different things.  Jesus, during His transfiguration, spoke with Moses and Elijha, proving that Saints are very real.  Revelations talks about God hearing the prayers of Saints.  Protestants generally do not believe in Saints, even going so far as to say you are evil for praying for their help.\n\n4) Catholics actually have a more books in their Holy Bible than protestants do.  Luther decided, and others helped over the years, that certain books just did not belong in the Bible.  So, they got rid of books like "Wisdom of Solomon," "Baruch," both books of Maccabees (which reference Purgutory), "Sirach", etc.\n\n5) Catholics (Roman Catholics, anyway) have celibate priests and nuns.  Other faiths can have their preachers and sisters get married.\n\n6) The biggest difference:  Lutheranism was founded by Martin Luther.  The Methodists were founded by John Wesley.  Baptists trace their church to John Smyth in 1609.  Catholics, my friend, were founded upon a command by Jesus, the Christ, to Peter, His Apostle (read Matthew 16:18).  Other religions may revere Christ and speak of the Apostles.  The Catholic faith was made by Christ's command, to the Apostles.\n\nI hope this helps.  Do not be fooled by those who tell you that salvation is found anywhere.  Be sure you get the original, untainted source.
358555
If he/she married the first time by church then no way unless that person requests a marrige anullment to the pope...If the person didnt marry thru church for the first time just thru the civil laws then yea one can marry by church.
1174122
I'm an American of Irish decent, married to a American of German decent. It made my family so angry when I married outside my species that they all got piss drunk and beat me up. And then, they sentenced me to..........."The Wearin' of the Green Shoes"! So now, if I return to Ireland, I'll be marked for assassination by both Protestants and Catholics alike.  ;-)
870167
Whether or not you are Catholic is not a question of legality. It is a question of Spirituality.\n\nTry to think of your Baptism's wider implications. The Catholic Church recognizes and respects baptisms that take place in other Christian denominations. That is because, once baptized, we become members of His church; either directly as Catholics, or indirectly as non-Catholic Christians.\n\nOnce Baptized, you are considered Christian. In your case, a Catholic Christian. You may be inactive in your church, but that does not in any way nullify your baptism.
324926
Men will only marry when the are  ready. It depends on your religions and how devout each of you are or arent.  The closer your religions are, the easier it may be. Speak to your priest - you may have to undego instruction or agree to bring any children up in a cerytain faith.
428439
First off, I don't know about Mormons. I tried to get info from two of them one time. I asked them why they claim to be Christian (Which is what I am - Protestant) but then they try to convert Christians to Mormonism...if we're both Christians, then why would you need to convert me? They weren't really able to answer that. Jehovah's Witnesses have some idease that I differ with as well.\n\nI think that the reason people switch from Catholicism or Protestant to Mormon or Jehovah's Witness, is that they feel something is missing, they're not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling, or maybe they're feeling down on themselves, like they're not being the sort of person they should be. I'm not saying that Catholicism is wrong or anything, just that for whatever reason, each individual that converts feels that something is lacking in their own spiritual life and they assume it's the church they're attending instead of looking inward to their own faith.\n\nMy sister converted to Catholicism...and I can tell you her reason. She wanted to marry the love of her life who is Catholic, and his family would have flipped out if they did not get married by church.
867730
Usually, no. According to Canon law, priests are supposed to take a vow of celibacy and say unmarried. There are a few Catholics priest who are married, however. Some priests in Eastern Catholic churches, such as in Hungary, Slovakia, etc..., are allowed to get married because their traditions are more like Eastern Orthodox religions. A few priests are married in the United States, but they were priests in another religion before converting and did not get married while they were Catholic. If a Lutheran priest gets married and converts to Roman Catholicism, the church does not expect him to get divorced, so he gets to keep his wife. In those circumstances, those priests are not required to keep a vow of celibacy either. If a person starts being a Roman Catholic priest and takes a vow of celibacy and is not married, he is not allowed to get married or have sex afterwards.
553722
I am not a priest, but I am the CRE of a Catholic parish. I also work with engaged couples in marriage preparation.\n\nIf you are able to live together, why can't you get married?\n\nThat's my question. It sounds like you want to do this right and not have sex before marriage. \n\nGood for you!\n\nAnd you are right, living together would be a temptation- not to mention cause the sin of scandal even if you AREN'T having sex ( because people will think you are anyway.)\n\nYou should talk to a priest. Are you wanting to hurry up getting married because she was kicked out? Not the best reason to enter marriage. Is there a female friend or family member she can live and share rent with for a few months. Even one of your friends or relatives would be perferable to her moving in with you.\n\nWeddings don't have to be the hideous displays we are used to seeing. The only things that matter are the bride, groom, priest and 1 or 2 witnesses. You can do that any day, and go have lunch at McDonalds if that is all you can afford. THE SACRAMENT IS WHAT MATTERS, NOT THE PARTY!!!!\n\nAs for children, you really need to research Natural Family Planning. It is NOT rhythm method, and is so effective, many infertile couples have used it to conceive after giving up on expensive and painful shots!\n\nCheck out www.ccli.org  note that is ORG, not COM.\n\nIt already sounds like you have good control over yourself. Natural Family Planning allows a couple to cooperate with God in planning their family. The couple grows in the love using NFP. \n\nAlso NFP, used properly, is as effective as the Pill, without the awful side effects- one of which IS killing babies. The pill works in 2 ways. The first is by trying to prevent an egg from being released. But if she doesn't take the Pill like clockwork, or forgets to change the patch or get the shot at exactly the right time, an egg can slip out. So the second way the Pill works is by changing the lining of the uterus so a fertilized egg ( in other words a BABY) cannot implant...so it gets flushed down the toilet or thown out with a used maxi pad. Is that really what you want for your baby?\n\n\nThe Pill kills.\n\nAbove all, I ask you to re-read your own question. If neither of you "is ready to have a child for financial, emotional, and mental reasons" you need to think about whether you are really ready to enter marriage. While marriage is a wonderful thing, you really need tremendous maturity and emotional stability to make it last. It is much tougher than you think.\n\nTalk to your priest. Look for other housing for your girlfriend. Or find a cheap room for your self and let her live in the nicer or safer location. Sounds like you need to stop and think before you rush into marriage- or you'll soon be rushing to divorce.
758869
Only if the old marriage is invalid. If you were a Catholic when you first married, and chose not to marry in the church, this should be easy to prove. A Justice of the Peace Marriage does not a Church Wedding make. Go see your parish priest and begin annulment proceedings. This must be done first.\nGood luck.
13505
You must remember: no matter what non Catholic religion your spouse is, as long as the children are raised Catholic and you are married Catholic it should be ok.
420329
Probably higher than you would expect, probably much higher.  You should not resent it.  The whole purpose of ecumenism is to restore the Church to one church.  Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans and Anglicans are consciously moving their services back to the early services to permit growth together.  A consequence of this is that they are looking more and more Catholic.  The Sunday readings, the common lectionary, is the Catholic lectionary though sometimes slightly modified here and there.  That way each church is reading the same scripture every day of the year.\n\nI have been involved in quite a number of RCIA programs.  There are a large number of converts each year to Catholicism from Protestant churches.  One year it was a problem.  We had 21 and it was larger than the front of the church.  About a third were non-Christian but the rest were Protestants who started asking questions and ended up in Catholicism.\n\nInstead of resenting, rejoice!  If God calls someone to do something it is arrogant to get in the way.  This is true whether they are Presbyterian becoming Catholic or Catholic becoming Presbyterian.  The world is too messy a place and too difficult to resent this.\n\nI do suggest a book.  It was written by Scott Hahn and Kimberly Hahn.  He was, I believe, a presbyterian minister and theologian and she was a presbyterian theologian.  He became Catholic.  The shock was terrible to her.  They write of the experience in "Home Sweet Rome."  It is a biography of their life written from the perspective of both of them.\n\nAny anger you are experiencing is the internal rejection of what your spouse values and it has created a split that did not exist.  Your absolute duty is to love your spouse.  You are not free to do anything else, which means you need to find a way to work this.  My wife, when I met her was Mennonite.  It took me a while to handle that.  Life changes, she is a wonderful woman.  Things wrong with my internal needs are my problem, not my wife's nor God's.  Ironically, once I was fine with it God called her to Catholicism.  I was the one who opposed her conversion.  I didn't want her to do it for me.  Of course that is arrogant too.  My initial belief was that it involved me.  God does what God does and it often is irritating.\n\nGod figures out what he needs, we need to respond.\n\nGo to church with your spouse for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Vigil of the Resurrection.  After that, work out what you and your spouse need to do.
735508
Yes-absolutely. Your spouse may become a Christian while attempting to raise his children correctly.\nUnless this unsaved spouse has shown you that to stay with him your life will be miserable. But you do not mention any problems, only that one is saved and one is not.
750553
Hi!  I've taken Canon Law and a Catholic Pastoral  Minister.  Yes, you do have to have an annulment from your Tribunal.  Annulment isn't a divorce, it is a statement that says the civil marriage or church marraige was void at the time of saying vows because of an impediment.  Many people make vows to each other and want to be married but it doesn't means God agrees and joins the 2 flesh into one.  I can't marry my poodle, dolphin etc.even if the judgicial system sees it.   The Bible says that the 2 must be believers  or unbelievers.  Meaning the 2 must be in a belief system that is somewhat complete with thier feelings of salvation, and understanding of what marriage entails.  Your first civil marriage is probably not going to be seen by the Church as a sacramental marriage because you didn't fulfill what you both were brought up to believe, and your immaturity has much to do with it. If the Tribunal court affirms the marriage null and void as a sacramental marriage you are free to marry again.  Pray and tell God of all of your feelings. Give your life to him.  Pour out your heart and let him know he is needed in your life.  Go to a Priest, get confession and be reconciled and ask your priest to help you.  If he won't , go to another until you find a good priest.  I went through the process, cuz my first marraige was much the same.  The annulment should go through and shouldn't take long and don't worry about money . If anyone tells you that you must have money it is a lie.  No money changes hands unless you can afford it.  (usually 300 to 500 dollars unless different in your diocese)  The money, if given is for the secretarial and bookeeping fees.  Every day say "Jesus, I trust in you!  This is between you and God, not the Church.  The Church is to support you and give you sacraments to boost and fill your spirit.  The Church has to make these assessments  so that all marriages are kept straight in the records and keep the whole Church in unity.  We have more people in our Church then any other Christian Church and records kept for 2000 yrs.--alot to keep straight.  Bigger than any corperation and  the longest running establishment.   I hope this whole bunch of incidents makes you want to learn more about our beautiful and mystical faith.  It did for me and now I am very happily married for 23 yrs. and our family has seen so many real miracles and experienced real joy.  I did a big soul searching of myself to find the right man, because I had alot of baggage.  Get to know yourself and what you really want and need to live happily.  Good luck sweet girl and I will keep you in my prayers.
257839
Do you plan on having children? What beliefs are you going to raise them up with? Will he want his children to speak in tongues? Are you going to teach your kids about your idea of the rapture? I am a Jehovah's witness and we are taught to teach our children about the bible when we lie down when we get up and basically all the time. My husband and his family share my beliefs as well and I never have to worry about him teaching our kids false teachings. If you both plan on maintaining your current differing faiths it WILL put a strain on things. I am not going to say No it won't work or Yes it will. But, I have a good friend who is married to a non-Witness and that particular aspect has been a HUGE struggle in their marriage not merely from differing beliefs from her husband but from her in-laws as well who are not JW's and are very nasty to her. I can tell you for an almost  certainty you won't have that problem from his family but how will you family treat him?I don't know if your boyfriend is a baptised JW or not or if he really was brought up to have an accurate understanding of the Bible as taught by us. But, I do know that there are some things about the pentecostal beliefs that he may seriously disagree with if you really practice your faith. Really, I recommend you both sit down and seriously discuss your religious differences if you are both going to stay together. \nBut just in case you didn't know... We are Christians. Someone above stated we are not Christains I would just like to set the record straight.\n\n  Yeah and Everything Heatherloves... said below--Well put Sister!
304697
I am not a priest but I am Catholic so I hope I can give you some help on this.  I was not Catholic when I married my Catholic husband.  I was christened as a child but I can't remember if they even asked for any documentation to prove that.  But we did have to meet with a priest to clear up issues about how any children would be raised, etc.  And, anyone getting married in the Catholic Church must attend pre-cana classes.  Also, I was not allowed, of course, to take communion during the ceremony.