Interfaith Marriage in Christianity - Inter-religious Marriages

Inter-religious Marriages

The Roman Catholic Church has often discouraged marriages with Muslims and Jews, due to the fact that it is sometimes difficult to raise children in the faith after a marriage, especially if the woman is Catholic.

Marriages between a Catholic and an unbaptized person are not sacramental and fall under the impediment of disparity of worship (Code of Canon Law, Cn.1086 § 1). They are invalid without a dispensation, for which authority lies with the bishop ordinary of the place of marriage (Cn. 1086 § 2). In addition, the Catholic Church recognizes the Pauline privilege, wherein a Catholic may marry an unbaptized previously married person who consents to convert, but only if the unbaptized person's spouse refuses to become a Catholic also (similar to Muslim views on marrying previously-married non-Muslims).