What is the Church’s view on inter-religous marriages and relationships, and are there requirements / advice regarding these? Specifically, any information on Catholic – Hindu relationships would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Sincerely, To Marry and How to Marry

Dear To Marry and How to Marry,

The Church recognizes and accepts that Roman Catholics who do not marry fellow Roman Catholics, marry partners who are either Christians of other denominations or non-Christians. In each of these cases there are specific regulations to follow in order that these marriages might be recognized in the Roman Catholic Church. First and foremost both parties must be free to marry in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church. Taking that as a given, let’s look at two possibilities:

A: A Roman Catholic desires to marry someone who is of the Anglican, Presbyterian, or United Church. One would visit his/her pastor, discuss the proposed marriage and complete the necessary forms, submit the appropriate documents (baptism, confirmation certificates, marriage license, etc). One of the major issues will be the baptism of any children born of the proposed marriage. The Church asks that the Roman Catholic do all in his/her power to ensure that any children born of this marriage be baptized as Roman Catholics. The Church is prepared to grant permission for the marriage itself to take place in the Church of either party. The Church also has the expectation that an appropriate pre-marriage course be completed before the marriage takes place.

B: A Roman Catholic desires to marry someone of a non-Christian faith (Hindu, Jewish, etc) or someone of no faith. Again one would visit his/her pastor and discuss the proposed marriage. One major issue is how does one maintain his/her faith when it is a faith that is different from his/her partner. Again the issue of the baptism of the children will need to be addressed. Again the Church is prepared to offer the necessary dispensation for the marriage to take place. It will even grant permission for the marriage to take place in an appropriate place other than a church if there are appropriate reasons for making the request.

Thus you can see that inter-religious marriages can take place and be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. The major question will be for the Roman Catholic party to determine how easy/difficulty it will be for him/her to maintain a faith that is not shared by his/her partner.

One might also want to consider how even the social aspects of holidays such as Christmas and Easter with family and friends might be affected, for example if one’s partner is Jewish, Hindu or of no particular faith. I’ve no doubt that two people who love one another can work through whatever hurdle life throws at them. However one should enter such relationships with eyes wide open and many issues resolved before they commit themselves in marriage.

aka Fr. Doug C.Ss.R.