Christians Dating Catholics

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ss

Guest
#1
Hey everyone!

First post here, so I'd love to have your feedback.

I've been dating a girl for about 2 months now. We met online. Originally when I viewed her profile, she listed herself as a Christian. On our fourth date, she mentioned that she was actually Catholic. I later went back and found out that this particular dating site did not have "Catholic" as a religion choice. So I understand why she listed herself as a Christian.

So the dilemma is whether or not to even pursue things further. I know that I want to raise children (eventually) with the foundation of Christianity. This is something I will not compromise on. In the event that she is set on raising children with the foundation of Catholicism...and she is not willing to compromise on this either, then the relationship is ultimately doomed right?

I know this is basically a rhetorical question, but I'm still curious to hear anyone's thoughts...especially if anyone has dealt with this situation before. Thanks again!

ss
 
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BananaPie

Guest
#2
May the Lord have mercy on all the Catholics, for the Lord Jesus died for them too. :)

You may want to first consider to stay equally-yoked in all that you say, see, think, and do. As a suggestion, on consecutive times, invite your Catholic friend to your Christian place of worship. The outcome of her respose will be quite reveling to you and may provide more information than anything online forums.

May the Lord Jesus be your first-love in your life's endeavors. :)

 
Aug 18, 2011
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#3
So Catholic's are not Christian anymore? I know their Papal infalliblity is heresy, but they are still Christian.
 
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ss

Guest
#4
So Catholic's are not Christian anymore? I know their Papal infalliblity is heresy, but they are still Christian.
My apologies, I fear I have generalized too much. I really was pointing more towards the differences between Protestants and Catholics...mainly focusing on the fact that I don't agree with such ideas as penance and purgatory.
 
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BananaPie

Guest
#5
Penance and purgatory are no longer "front row seats" among Catholics nowadays.

The weight of the dilema is that Catholics have a set way of approaching their faith and such set way is in conflict with the set way of a Protestant. This is, after all, "a protest" against the Catholic view of how to live as a Christian.

What's on the balance? To name a few factors:
Infant baptism.
The effectiveness of "holy water"
The effectiveness of frequent confessions to your local parish priest tied to the effectiveness of remission by way of praying the rosary.
The effectiveness of prayer to dead Catholic "saints" and prayer to Mary.
The whole madona worship (Mary worship) and the adoration of the Pope has not changed since Roman times.

At best, all of the above has zero biblical grounds, and it is not my place nor the topic to qualify what it is. Furthermore, if the girl already said she is Catholic, what exactly does that mean in light of your faith and your Lord?
 

dscherck

Banned [Reason: persistent, ongoing Catholic heres
Aug 3, 2009
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#6
You know, I used to think almost exactly like BananaPie did regarding Catholics. I tried to "save" a Catholic friend from "Romanism" and was convinced that Catholicism was a satanic counterfeit to real Christianity.

Long story short, I ended up really reading what the Catholic Church teaches, comparing it to the Bible and to the teachings of the earliest Christians. Turns out I was the one wrong. I'm now a Catholic! Don't be afraid to date this girl. You may find that the Catholic faith is actually more Bible based than you think. One of the biggest things I had a problem with was the fact that Protestant Christianity and Catholic/Orthodox Christianity will use the same words, but with different meanings.

The biggest thing to remember is that we Catholics ARE Christian. We may not believe exactly as most Protestants do, but we certainly do believe in Jesus Christ, and acknowledge Him as Our Lord God and Saviour. If you really do like this girl, why not take this as an opportunity to learn more about your faith and hers. If you have questions about specific topics, you can certainly ask here, or if you want a more one on one discussion you could visit her parish and talk to the priest or ask for the RCIA teacher. They'll be able to help you know more about the Catholic faith and how certain practices are indeed based on Scripture. :)
 

dscherck

Banned [Reason: persistent, ongoing Catholic heres
Aug 3, 2009
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#7
My apologies, I fear I have generalized too much. I really was pointing more towards the differences between Protestants and Catholics...mainly focusing on the fact that I don't agree with such ideas as penance and purgatory.
Well, what do you know about Purgatory? There's a LOT of misconceptions regarding this subject. For a nice primer I'd recommend this link: Purgatory | Catholic Answers

It's got Scripture references a plenty and at the very least, will help you understand the Catholic viewpoint even if you disagree with it.

As far as penance goes, here are two more links for you discussing the subject along with Scriptural references.
Confession | Catholic Answers
The Forgiveness of Sins | Catholic Answers

As with Purgatory, there's a LOT of misconceptions out there regarding penance and confession. I hope that these links help you at the very least, understand the Catholic viewpoint regarding these issues. There's plenty of Scripture references included for you to investigate things yourself too. :)

Hope these help!
 
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BananaPie

Guest
#8
Hello, Dscherck:

In all respect to your Catholic understanding about God, I am not aware of any specific "satanic counterfeit to real Christianity" considering I have not been around for two millenia, as the RCC has, to obtain such proof.

The only proof I have of Who Jesus is and what God requires of me is the 40 something years Yours Truely has had the opportunity to be exposed to the reading of the Holy Bible, and my own hobby to read history relevant to the Bible. As the Lord Jesus said it Himself, "you are already clean because of the word which I HAVE SPOKEN to you."

For a one King, so very long ago, to have been born in a stable to very humble parents, to become a one Jewish carpenter speaking wisdom over the course of about 3 years, in an insignificant dusty town, in an insignificant crossroads corner of a great Empire collapsing on its own corruption, and His wisdom completely and irreversably changed the course of mankind to such a degree to still be making a difference in the lives of so many sinners today is truely what I've been after, live for and adamantly proclaim to others, for the love of God.

This is something only God can accomplish. All "satanic counterfeit" is frankly irrelevant to come "to know Christ and Him crucified."

Here's a blessing for you:
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." ~Proverbs 18:10
 
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Aug 18, 2011
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#9
Hello, Dscherck:

In all respect to your Catholic understanding about God, I am not aware of any specific "satanic counterfeit to real Christianity" considering I have not been around for two millenia, as the RCC has, to obtain such proof.

The only proof I have of Who Jesus is and what God requires of me is the 40 something years Yours Truely has had the opportunity to be exposed to the reading of the Holy Bible, and my own hobby to read history relevant to the Bible. As the Lord Jesus said it Himself, "you are already clean because of the word which I HAVE SPOKEN to you."

For a one King, so very long ago, to have been born in a stable to very humble parents, to become a one Jewish carpenter speaking wisdom over the course of about 3 years, in an insignificant dusty town, in an insignificant crossroads corner of a great Empire collapsing on its own corruption, and His wisdom completely and irreversably changed the course of mankind to such a degree to still be making a difference in the lives of so many sinners today is truely what I've been after, live for and adamantly proclaim to others, for the love of God.

This is something only God can accomplish. All "satanic counterfeit" is frankly irrelevant to come "to know Christ and Him crucified."

Here's a blessing for you:
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." ~Proverbs 18:10

The main "satanic counterfeit to christianity" I see are preachers like Benny Hinn and other false Protestant teachers. Though I perceive that Rome is in heresy from the One Eastern Orthodox Christian Church, they still hold fast to holy tradition which teaches people how to live holy lives. Protestantism on the contrary doesn't teach people how to live a holy life because it has no ancient tradition from which they can learn from and be guided by.

In my eyes and by what I was taught, Roman Catholicism is a divergence from the original Church (the Eastern Orthodox Church), but it was the Protestant Reformation that started huge divergences and divisions in the body of Christ, causing thousands of different beliefs and Churches to be formed over the course of 500 years. This "reformation" led not to a uniform formation of just one Protestant "Church", but a huge host of many different Churches all with different theologies and teachings. This huge hose of "Churches" I like to call "Christian Babylon", because there is SO MUCH confusion in the Protestant Christian world today, because no-one can agree on "One Faith", "One Lord" and "One Baptism" (Ephesians 4:4-5) and there is no "Unity of the Faith" (Ephesians 4:13).

If you would read Ephesians 4 over carefully, you can see that it was not God's will that there be many Faith's or many Lord's. Jesus gave the original Church "pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11) so that we all could come to the "unity of the Faith" (Ephesians 4:13). Paul is talking about his own times, so this means that the "unity of the faith" has already been accomplished. But where is it accomplished? in the Eastern Orthodox Catholic (universal) Church. Only in this Church is there One Lord, One Baptism and One Faith, just as the Lord intended when he said, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it". For Paul also said that this Church is the one and only holder of the Truth, "the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15).


Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,
13 until we all arrive to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we may no longer be infants, being tossed as by waves, and being carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in regard to deceitful scheming,
15 but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ;
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the working of the measure of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the edification of itself in love.
 
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dscherck

Banned [Reason: persistent, ongoing Catholic heres
Aug 3, 2009
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#10
Let's not get into the debate over Orthodox Christianity -vs- Catholic Christianity -vs- Protestant Christianity too much in this thread. The OP just expressed some concerns over his GF's beliefs. I'd like to think that if he's willing to do a little bit of reading, he'll come to the conclusion that Catholics are Christians as well.

For what it's worth, I am a Catholic married to a non-Catholic Christian. We have some minor difficulties, but honestly the hardest part of our marriage isn't the Catholic -vs- Protestant viewpoints, its the fact that she prefers Coke and I prefer Pepsi. ;)
 
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BananaPie

Guest
#11
Hello NiceneChristian:

As a side note, your enthusiasm for our Lord Jesus and for knowing God, the Father, comes across as genuine, thus, your essays are interesting to this reader, who is encouraged by your choice to seek God in your youth. I sincerely pray that you steadfastly continue “according to the Way,” which leads to meaningful, godly living for Christ, and that you never depart from the blessed hope there is in waiting for the promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ. May you be found by HIM faithful considering that the Lord may very well return in your life time. Like sweet!

As for the “satanic counterfeiters,” sorry, OP; it was not Pie’s intention to hijack your thread. :)
Perhaps the topic may be addressed in its own thread in respect to the OP.
 
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BananaPie

Guest
#12
Let's not get into the debate over Orthodox Christianity -vs- Catholic Christianity -vs- Protestant Christianity too much in this thread.
Agree.

...I am a Catholic married to a non-Catholic Christian. We have some minor difficulties... its the fact that she prefers Coke and I prefer Pepsi. ;)
Pepsi huh? By any blessing does she like Dr.Pepper too? :D
 
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MrsSunflower

Guest
#13
I think it is very bad of us to judge every Catholic beleiver for not being a Christian. I even think it is bad saying that Catholicism is not a genre into Christianity as well. In earlier times as in the 19th century, if you became a Catholic you were seen as being a very "strong" Christian, more than if you'd be protestant.

When I stopped judging all Catholics for being less Christian, was when I got invited in to some neighbours of mine when I was living closer to the school I attended, and I had moved out from my parents house not so long time ago. They had just got their first baby girl, and I thought I could congratulate them outside of the door, and still they'd ask me to come in. I had a nice talk with them, and they told me they were Catholics. They came from Iran, I think it was. Jesus was very important for them too, and they agreed about His Salvation as most important. Most of all what I noticed the most, was such a great presence of God's peace over us inside of their appartment, and I got so happy knowing their hearts were strongly on God. After that one time experience I changed my mind about judging all Catholics for being bad, I thought from that moment on that what's most important is where we are having our hearts; whether our hearts are on God or not. Only God truly knows the hearts of every Christian, and we should be careful with the way we judge others. Yes, we are to test them by the fruits. Still, judging a whole bunch of people because of one church where we have heard bad rumors about isn't a good attitude either.
 
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Tobby17

Guest
#14
Well does it matter if Catholics are Christians or not?

You don't want to raise ur children as Catholics, she does!

You both obviously are not headed in d same direction.. So?, doesn't dat say it all??

Amos 3:3- Shall two walk together except they agree??
 
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Siberian_Khatru

Guest
#15
Honestly OP, I believe it's ultimately up to your children to decide how they choose to worship. Though I like the idea of religion, I'm not a fan of much of the dogma that can often accompany it, and this thread furthers my opinion on that (no offense to anyone, naturally!).

In the end, if you two are both after God's heart, then I think you can find a happy middle ground. Difference of frame of mind (or rather, frame of spirit, if you will) should only be a deterring factor if she was simply a nonbeliever.

Best regards, SS.
 

dscherck

Banned [Reason: persistent, ongoing Catholic heres
Aug 3, 2009
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#16
BananaPie;571519 [SIZE=3 said:
Pepsi huh? By any blessing does she like Dr.Pepper too? :D[/SIZE]
Not really. I like Dr. Pepper myself though. I'm weird in that I really like mixing it in with either Orange Fanta or Mtn. Dew. :)
 
Aug 18, 2011
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#17
Not really. I like Dr. Pepper myself though. I'm weird in that I really like mixing it in with either Orange Fanta or Mtn. Dew. :)
You're never gonna believe what happened to me tonight. I went to the Food Lion soda machine for a 60 cent 12 oz can of soda, but instead of giving me one soda it gave me three! Can you believe it! 2 Cokes and a Mellow Yellow. I ended up giving away a Coke though.
 
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Nanabell

Guest
#18
I say before marriage fast and pray:)) Wait on God for His answer:)) Cause you seem like you have a really good head on your shoulders and if you were already in that sistuation that's one thing, but your not so maybe that's why God has shown you this:)) Yea sometimes you can workout the differences but not all the time:(( And if not what a mess for the Family:((( God will give you the answer:) He knows what's best:) If she's not the one:(( Jesus will give you one that believes like you and you will have a much happier marriage:)) Learn from others:)) Life has it's own difficulties:((
 
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Rosewater

Guest
#19
Buy the book Catholicism for Dummies and then decide whether to date the girl. Meaning learn about the faith and decide, who knows you may convert. Good luck and God bless.
 
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Katy-follower

Senior Member
Jun 25, 2011
2,719
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#20
God does not want us to be unequally yoked.

2 Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"


This isn't just referring to non believers, but those who are also unequal Spiritually. It will be a lot more difficult further down the line when you decide to have children, if she wants to remain Catholic. I know this because I'm born again and married to a Catholic. It wasn't so straight forward for us because we met when we were both backsliding in our faiths. I came back to God and that sent my husband running to his Catholic faith rather than in the same direction as me.

I suggest being friends for now, and see how that goes. Take her to your church and be a good witness of what Christ has done for you in your life.