What are the issues involved in these situations...

- Catholic man dates Protestant woman

- Protestant man dates Catholic woman

I need to know because I was in the Catholic church up to age 12 and then started going to Protestant churches for many years up to the present. I consider myself a Christian first and any denomination as secondary.

Unless one or both of you is really religious, I can't imagine what difference it would make. There's really not a whole lot of differences between Christian ideologies, I would think if you cared enough about each other, you'd be able to come up with compromises, if necessary. My brother is Catholic, sister-in-law is Methodist and my other brother is Catholic and my other sister-in-law is Jewish, they made it work.

AS A NOT REALLY RELIGIOUS PERSON AT THIS TIME ALTHOUGH I WAS BABTISED CATHOLIC...WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT???

Wise choice. Just my opinion. I am nondenominational. To me it is the smallest denominator. I always thought Catholic churches made beautiful buildings. I have always loved the artwork. Personally I think if that is the only issue that might come up in a relationship then there isn't really a problem but then I have had so many past issues to deal with something like that would pale in comparison. Good thread.

There's no issue until marriage, most diocese require the non-Catholic to convert before the marriage will be recognized by the Catholic church. You can always just do a civil marriage or get married in the Protestant church.

BUT WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES

A few of the major Differences between Catholic and Protestant


1. Issue of the sufficiency and authority of Scripture.

2 Timothy 3:16 where we see that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Catholics are taught to believe that both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition are necessary. Many Roman Catholics doctrines, such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc. have little or no basis at all in Scripture, but are based solely on Roman Catholic traditions.

According to Catholicism the Pope is a substitute for Christ, and takes the place of Jesus as the visible head of the Church. As such he has the ability to speak with authority on matters of faith and practice. These teachings are considered infallible and binding upon all Christians. Protestants believe that no human being is infallible, and that Christ alone is the head of the church.

2. Catholicism teaches that only the Catholic Church can properly and correctly interpret the Bible, Protestants believe that the Bible teaches that God sent the Holy Spirit to indwell all born again believers, enabling all believers to understand the message of the Bible.

This is clearly seen in passages such as John 14:16-17: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (See also John 14:26 and 1 John 2:27).

3. Believers are saved by faith alone. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Essential to the Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation are the Seven Sacraments, which are: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, anointing of the sick, Holy Orders, and matrimony.


The Catholic bible (Douay Version) contains Apocryphal books (between the Old Testament and the New Testament). In the Council of Trent AD 1546, these books were declared to be canonical.


Brown - a good thread. I believe it is a personal choice and it could depend on if a couple were thinking of having a family if their personal beliefs were very important to them and they wanted to raise the children in that faith. Then the couple would need to decide what was best for them.

If they were considering marriage - if it was going to be in the catholic church that may be an important factor. If a catholic church, would the other partner need to convert to Catholicism, and would they be willing to do so.

I believe inter-faith marriages/relationships can work if both parties are willing to openly discuss their beliefs and compromise in a loving manner.

Britty gave a good list of differences, and it looks like from a Protestant viewpoint. I'd like to hear the differences from a Catholic viewpoint as well.

Also, some Protestants frown on drinking alcohol, but that is more of a social issue.

If you invite someone to church (on a date) it can become an issue rather quickly. This happened to my brother recently.

Im born, baptized, and educated as a catholic but i have a protestant aunt who brings us to sunday school when we were young and to sunday service. I never find it an issue. I appreciate both religion. I guess what's most important is that we both believe that Jesus saved us from our sins :)

i'm catholic...and no, the other person doesn't have to convert in order to have a catholic wedding.

however, they do have to go through the four-month counseling period with you...and they have to agree that all children will be raised according to the catholic faith.

if you marry without a catholic ceremony and you ARE catholic...then you are prevented from receiving communion.

I was an altar boy and had first communion in the Catholic church, so technically I may still be considered Catholic, it's just that I've been attending other churches from age 13 up to the present.

J.R.R. Tolkien (a famous Catholic) is still my favorite author of all time. I started reading Tolkien's books when I was an altar boy years ago. :)

J R R Tolkien - I agree, a wonderful man and great author.
His devout faith became a significant force in leading C S Lewis from Atheism back to Christianity.

"if you marry without a catholic ceremony and you ARE catholic...then you are prevented from receiving communion."

maybe communion at a catholic church, but u can take communion at most any protestant church, and to me it's equally valid.

personally i dont believe the catholic church is the ultimate authority of christ on earth. they've done too many things in the name of god and hidden too many secrets for me to believe that. (spanish inquisition, crusades, recent priest scandals, etc)

personally i am a firm christian and i go to a non-denominational church where we study from the bible and try our best to live right in our personal walks with christ.