Question about religion

[NateD]

OK, I know that religion is probably one of the most infamous topics in the world for starting up wars and that kind of thing, and I definitely don't want to start a war here, but I am curious about one thing: the majority of Filipinas are, I think, Catholic?  Has anyone who isn't a Catholic but has married a Roman Catholic Filipina experienced any type of difficulties?  Like I said, I don't want to start a war  Just curious.

Thanks,
NateD

[Ray]

... in response to Question about religion, posted by NateD on May 15, 2002

Nate,

Like Dave & Don said, if you both respect and tolerate each other’s religious beliefs, then it can work well. You’re correct that the majority of Filipinos are Catholic, probably around 85%. I think it depends a lot on how “Catholic” she is. If neither one of you are very religious, then it won’t matter nearly as much. But if she is a devout Catholic and follows the rules of the church, then these are some things you can expect:

1. She and her family will want her to marry in her church in a traditional Filipino wedding ceremony. If you’re non-Catholic, this “may” be a problem, depending on the particular jurisdiction where she lives and what the policies of the local bishop are. At worst, you would be required to convert before you are allowed to marry in the church, but I don’t think this is the norm. If she is married in a civil ceremony, or in a religious ceremony of another church, then she won’t be able to fully practice her religion.

2. She will be expected to raise your children as Catholics

3. She will still want to practice her religion in her new home, which means that you will probably have to take her to a local church at least once a week, until she can drive herself.

4. She will likely want to display religious articles in your home and celebrate religious holidays.

If you have no problem with these, then you have a good basis to work on. I’ve known quite a few Fil-Am couples where she was Catholic and he wasn’t, and religion is usually not a big issue.

Ray

[The Walker]

... in response to Question about religion, posted by NateD on May 15, 2002

I am not a Christian and Vicky is a devout Catholic. No problems. I attend mass with her once a month to show my face and on special days. Makes her feel better and means nothing to me, so no harm done.

The local priest and I are on friendly terms as we sit on charity boards together and he tries to teach me to golf, without success.

I allow her to worship as she chooses and let her donate to or do Catholic charity work as she sees fit. So we get along well enough in the realm of religion.

She decorates BIG for Christmas. She gives up things for lent and I pay no mind to that, I just let her suffer as that seems to be necessary in Christian beliefs. She tried to get me to give up something for lent once but that idea went over like a lead balloon. :-) Every so often her conscience gets to her and she tries to convert me. I turn her down gently and that seems to satisfy her for a while. I blame the Catholic wedding ceremony where the priest says she is supposed to "ceaselessly" attempt to convert me or something like that, and she IS a faithful daughter of the church. So she tries, but not too often and she doesn't make a big deal out of it.

So we get along just fine as things are. Show the proper respect for her beliefs, don't make her miss mass or confession, and she'll not give you a lot of grief over the subject.

-Don

[Dave H]

... in response to Question about religion, posted by NateD on May 15, 2002

Hi Nate,

My wife is Roman Catholic and I am Protestant. No religious problems, since we are both very tolerant of the other's beliefs. My sister-in-law's husband is Jewish (not devout) and they also have no religious problems. One of my wife's Filipina friends is Roman Catholic, married to a Hindu. They have no religious problems either. I think that as long as you are tolerant of your wife's beliefs, she will probably be tolerant of yours. Iglesia ni Cristo and SOME of the Philippine Protestant (Jehovah's Witness, etc.) groups might be the exception and want you to convert. To marry a Filipina Muslim, you will have to convert.

Dave H.

[outwest77]

... in response to Question about religion, posted by NateD on May 15, 2002

I heard the girls family usually kidnaps the guy
and lops off his head and  shrinks it, like the headshrinking tribes.