I am Catholic but my fiancee is a non-practicing Jehovah Witness, can we get married in a Catholic church

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I am a catholic but my fiancee is a non practiving jehovah witness, we would like to get get married in the catholic faith, but he is not willing to convert. Is this possible?

-- Chela (chela0206@yahoo.com), January 09, 2005

Answers

Response to I am catholic but my fiancee is a non practicig jehovah witness, can we get married in a catholic church

Yes, if you obtain a dispensation from the bishop to marry a non- Catholic. I think you may also need to take some pre-marriage classes.

You will need to promise to do all in your power to raise the children Catholic and also that your marriage will not threaten your Catholic faith. He does not have to promise this, but must know of and understand your promise. I believe I have this right, and if I missed anything I hope someone will correct me.

God bless you in your future marriage.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com"), January 09, 2005.


Response to I am catholic but my fiancee is a non practicig jehovah witness, can we get married in a catholic church

Dear Chela,

Is your fiance willing to support any children you might have being raised Catholic? The issue of religion is *not* going to go away once you are married. If you have children, it will become a very vital issue, if it isn't already. You need to go into marriage having the same faith, the same Savior Christ, the same values. Otherwise, you are building on shifting sand, not solid rock--you want your marriage to be strong and founded on Christ, don't you?

-- Michael (edwardsronning@prodigy.net), January 10, 2005.


Response to I am catholic but my fiancee is a non practicig jehovah witness, can we get married in a catholic church

Dear Chela,

This union could be disasterous for you if you take your faith and God seriously.

The Jehovah Witness denies the divinity of Christ. This is serious. How could that be a good partnership? Who will influence your children?

The Catholic Church might find a way around this important deatail for you--But God would not.

Unless this person you want to marry has rejected the jehovah Witnesses and want to commit their life to Christ--I would seriously rethink getting married.

-- (anon@anon.com), January 10, 2005.


Response to I am catholic but my fiancee is a non practicig jehovah witness, can we get married in a catholic church

Emily,

God says do not partner with those who do not believe.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?

For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Given that very clear passage, how could the Catholic Church approve of such a partnership?

-- (anon@anon.com), January 10, 2005.


Response to I am catholic but my fiancee is a non practicig jehovah witness, can we get married in a catholic church

Chela,

I am really worried for you. After many discussions with them, I have learned that the sect of Jehovahs Witnesses are openly hostile to Christianity and in particular the Roman Catholic church which it believes to be the 'beast' spoken of in the Book of Revelation.

By 'non-practicing' I take it you mean he doesn't go to meetings etc. anymore. But does he still believe in what the sect teaches. If he does, how and why would he want to be married in a Catholic church, moreover, and I hope I'm not out of order saying this, but how and why would he want to marry a Christian. Does he plan to convert YOU?

Obvously we don't know the all the details of your situation but at first glance I can't see how your two faiths can be reconciled, as from what I know, Catholicism and the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses are not compatible.

-- zeek (zeek@yahoo.com), January 11, 2005.



Response to I am catholic but my fiancee is a non practicig jehovah witness, can we get married in a catholic church

Thank you for all the responses

Let me give you a little background on our situation, I am from a very catholic family, went to catholic schooling all my life. My grandparents of Mexican decent had tremendous faith in the Lord and helped my siblings and I learn more and be involved at our church. My fiancee was actually baptized as a catholic when he was born, but his parents then converted to Jehovah Witness, he himself was never allowed to be baptized in the Jehovah Witness faith because he did not follow the adequate steps to show his worthiness. Now as adult he has decided that this religion is not for him and has to come to this conclusion because many of the the teachings are not in acordance with him. He questioned too much as a teenager and refused to participate, eventually he was banned from any functions and his parents were demoted ( his father at the time was what you call an elder, but because his son-my fiance, was not participating, he was taken away that priveledge). He is not trying to convert me because he himself believes that religion to be full of nonsense. Anyhow his entire family is catholic, other than his mom, dad and sister, so he has been influenced greatly by the catholic faith. He is not quite ready to convert to the catholic church but is willing to learn and maybe one day soon make the rest of his sacraments in order to become a Catholic. He is openly willing to raise any children we may have in the catholic faith. We both do have alot of faith and we have great discussions about our faiths and we were opting for just a civil wedding but came to the conclusion that we need the blessing of the Lord in order to start our marriage, home and family. I really aprreciate everyone's advice and will do my best to build a solid foundation of faith for my marriage.

-- Chela (chela0206@yahoo.com), January 11, 2005.


there is a LOT OF MISS INFORMATION by some fellow readers... i used to be a Jehovahs Witness and am now engaged to a catholic. first of all, Jehovahs Witnesses DO believe in Jesus...yes they do (was i the religion for over 20 years) he is Lord and Savior, birthed my the Virgin Mary. also, the scripture "unevenly yoked" i believe refers to people who DO NOT believe in Jesus or the principle of Christ and His word. so if you dont believe in Jesus, you shouldnt marry a Christian of any denomination. also, i have known of Muslims and Jehovahs witness that married, its about love, honesty, and allowing God to rule your life and try to follow His word. salvation is an individual thing, be more tolerant and open minded...Jesus was...

-- jv curt (r9443743@yahoo.com), February 21, 2005.

Please, everybody, notice what jv curt said that he used to be, a "Jehovah's Witness." Do you see that apostrophe and "s" after Jehovah. Please burn that apostrophe and "s" into your brain and use it for the rest of your life. I find that over 90% of non-Witnesses (including even the person who started this thread, who ought to know better), say things like, "I know a Jehovah Witness." NOOOOOO!!!!!!! It is, "I know a Jehovah's Witness." In other words, "I know a Witness of Jehovah." The word is possessive (apostrophe-s), for Pete's Sake! Even Marcus Grodi, who should know better, interviews an ex-Witness on EWTN and says stuff like, "When you were a Jehovah Witness, blah, blah, blah." I could just SCRRRREEEAAMMM bloody murder at the guy. Why is this so hard?!

-- (Im@Begging.You), February 21, 2005.

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