Expert: Kevin Crowell - 3/30/2004

Question
Thanks for your response.  Could you provide a little more detail on some of the uniqueness of the Catholic beliefs of Mary and the Eucharist that separates Catholicism from other Christian faiths?  Is it mainly Mary's assumption into heaven and the consecration of the bread and wine to the body and blood of Christ that differs from other Christian religions?  I appreciate your assistance.  You have provided a good start for my girlfriend and I to try and learn about each other and grow together.  God bless.
Joe


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Followup To
Question -
I am a born and raised Catholic, and have not had a lot of exposure to alternative christian religions until recently.  My girlfriend is a non-denominational christian, whose family is very involved with their church.  I am not exactly sure what the differences are between my beliefs and hers, but see the potential for problems in our relationship stemming from these differences.  Can you provide any guidance or advice in overcoming this obstacle?  It seems as though their teachings are similar to the Catholic teachings, but are there areas within our belief systems that are extremely different?  Any response will be helpful.  Thanks.
Answer -
Joe:
THANKS for asking!!
Its a good question you raise..
the only 'real' differences between Catholic and other Christian groups involve: Mary, The Saints, The Pope and in some cases Eucharsit.

Depends on where you are in your own faith story..there are enough similar points (Jesus, The Trinity, etc) that you at least have some real solid base to work with..
You should ask yourself what things like the Eucharist mean to you..can you go without daily/weekly Eucharist? If not..it may mean seperate times for worship..

You should look at exactly what this group teaches about things like Eucharist...Mary...etc..can YOU work within that framework?

Mixed faith relationships can work..they take more effort (depending on the strength of the individuals faith)
You can also really focus on what you do share in common and build your relationship from there..she could consider going to Mass with you..you can talk about what it means to you...
If you are BOTH willing..and can see the good in each others faith system, those areas you share in common and even where you may differ...the focus should be on what is common and not so much on what is different...

I hope within the limited framework that we have here..that this at least gives you some point to build from.

Lenten blessings
kevin+

Answer
Joe:
thanks for another good question:

Mary: Catholics belive in the Immaculate Conception (Mary was conceived without sin) also as you noted the Assupmtion and Catholics also call Mary..the Mother of God. The problem lies that Catholics can have a tendancyto elevate Mary into a position of diety..While we do honor her, she is not worshipped..a common misunderstanding.
Most Christians will accept that Mary was a virgen at the birth of Jesus..Catholics go further and believe that she remained a virgin her entire life.

Eucharist: for Catholics, the core of the belief system. At the moment of consecration, we do believe that the bread and wine become in fact the Body and Blood of Christ..(we call that transubstantiation) other Christians say that the bread and wine only are a memorial and represent the Body and Blood of Christ, that they are not in fact His Body and Blood.


I hope that the two of you will continue to explore your faith life together...you can find some common ground to share a life with.

pax christi
kevin+