Interfaith Marriages
There was a time, if not during your parent's era then certainly during your Grandparent's era, that the marriage of a Catholic to a non- Catholic, although not disallowed, would have been discouraged.
Let's flash foreword to the twenty-first Century. The Church, since The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council or "Vatican II" in 1962 under Pope John XXIII, the form of "The Rite of Marriage" now allows Catholics to marry non-Catholics and unbaptized people from non-Christian faiths. With these changes in mind, it recognizes that the union of a Catholic and a non-Catholic through marriage is an instrument of God's plan for your life and recognizes this union when celebrated in the presence of the Church's ministers.
The Church provides three forms of the Rite of Marriage:
A Mass celebrating the Eucharist for those who are both of the Catholic Faith.
A Liturgy of the Word Service, for Catholics marrying those of various Christian faiths.
A Liturgy of the Word Service that addresses the sensitivities of your non Christian partner while still celebrating the marriage within the Catholic tradition.
When a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, it is presumed that the Catholic partner will desire to continue their practice of the Catholic faith throughout their life. Along with the practice of their faith, another of these commitments will be the acceptance of any children that God has destined for them and to educate them in the Catholic faith. The Catholic party makes these promises before the marriage; the non-Catholic partner is made aware of these promises and commits to general support for the Catholic faith of his/her spouse.
If you have not discussed in depth the retention of your Catholic faith or if you do not fully understand the requirements of your fiancé’s faith, there could be several problems that may arise after your marriage. You may have some degree of difficulty obtaining unity for the family when one member retains the belief of one religion, while the other retains the belief of a different religion. The religious education of children may also become a source of tension within the marriage and the temptation of religious indifference may happen.
Understanding these potential problems, the Church is ready to assist you through education and dialogue. This is the time to explore your fiancé’s faith traditions and to educate them on your Catholic faith beliefs and traditions. In some cases the Catholic minister will take steps to establish contact with the partner's church or ecclesiastical community in order to support the marriage through a mutual collaboration however; your wedding must always have the permission of the Church to be considered a canonical form of marriage within the Church.
Testimonials
Heidi B.
Maureen Musso, Mother of the Bride - Maria Regina Roman Catholic Church - Seaford, New York
Lindsey and David - St. Hubert Catholic Church - Harrison Township
Jen & Dave - St Mary's - Hales Corners, WI
Joy & John - St. Mary’s Catholic Church - New Haven, CT
Tara & Joseph - Saint Vincent Basilica - Latrobe, PA
Corinne & Patrick - Church of the Infant Savior - Pine Bush, NY
Maria & Michael - Saint Agnes Catholic Church - Lake Placid, New York
Karuna & Alexander - Holy Cross Catholic Church - Deerfield, IL
Ansha & Stephen - St. Raphael’s Catholic Church - Rockville, MD
