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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 8/1/2008


Question
 It is my desire to propose marriage and become engaged to a woman who is
a Christian member of a non-denominational church.  There are several
Church teachings  that I hold and believe  as a Catholic, that she does not
agree with.  Should I allow this to be an impediment for us?  Also, what other
possible challenges should we address, or expect if we go forward?  We also
plan on meeting with her pastor as well as mine, although we feel that we
may be discouraged by either one of them by their response.

Answer
Hi, Patrick:
You are asking good questions...
I am happy to hear that you will be meeting with your Pastor, as this will be necessary for you to get married in the Catholic Church for you as a Catholic to have a valid Sacramental Marriage.  The Catholic Church does not currently have marriage with a baptised non-catholic as an impediment requiring a dispensation... You would need only get "permission".  All of this would, I hope, be explained in some more depth in marriage preparation meetings with a Catholic Priest.
You will definitely be facing the challenge of rather different views of the divine constitution of the Church, at the least.  Catholic believe that Jesus Christ founded the Catholic Church; Protestants generally deny this, and claim that all churches are simply man-made institutions, so that the "church structure" is seen merely as an expedient (even necessary evil) for carrying out the necessary administrative needs of a club or group.
Then there will be the differences of how the Sacraments are viewed.  In short, I would say that you will encounter much difference over the matter of just how God is incarnate in His workings in the world.
I could not imagine a Catholic Priest necessarily discouraging you by a negative response; but you might start having to respond to the very real differences that exist in your religious views.  If you both had the same view of Christianity and the Church, then you would either both be Catholic, or both call yourselves members of some kind of non-denominational denomination.
I wish you the best of everything...

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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