Vatican: Catholic Women Warned Against Marrying Muslim Men

[Analog]

Vatican Warns Catholics Against Marrying Muslims
Fri May 14, 2004 12:43 PM ET

By Shasta Darlington
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican warned Catholic women on Friday to think hard before marrying a Muslim and urged Muslims to show more respect for human rights, gender equality and democracy.

Calling women "the least protected member of the Muslim family," it spoke of the "bitter experience" western Catholics had with Muslim husbands, especially if they married outside the Islamic world and later moved to his country of origin.

The comments in a document about migrants around the world were preceded by remarks about points of agreement between Christians and Muslims but they seemed likely to fuel mistrust between the world's two largest religions.

The document said the Church discouraged marriages between believers in traditionally Catholic countries and non-Christian migrants.

It hoped Muslims would show "a growing awareness that fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the healthy lay character of the state are principles that cannot be surrendered."

When a Catholic woman and Muslim man wanted to marry, it said, "bitter experience teaches us that a particularly careful and in-depth preparation is called for."

It said one possible problem was with Muslim in-laws and advised future mothers that they must insist on Church policy that children born of a mixed marriage be baptized and brought up as Catholics.

If the marriage is registered in the consulate of a Muslim country, the document said, the Catholic must be careful not to sign a document or swear an oath including the shahada, the Islamic profession of faith, which would amount to converting.

Text

 

[AcidicFury]

The Catholic Church has always discouraged inter-faith marriages. This is nothing new.

 

[Eli]

:disgust:

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: AcidicFury
The Catholic Church has always discouraged inter-faith marriages. This is nothing new.

I think that goes for most organized religions.

 

[Alkaline5]

I'm not Catholic but IIRC, the Pope has mentioned before that Christians and Muslims are sister-faiths, so it's more than just about inter-faith marriages.

IMO the interesting point the article makes is this one: "It hoped Muslims would show 'a growing awareness that fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the healthy lay character of the state are principles that cannot be surrendered.'"

Basically, it's warning women that they'll be marrying into a society based on the standards of the Dark Ages if they're not careful.

 

[Wag]

Basically, it's warning women that they'll be marrying into a society based on the standards of the Dark Ages if they're not careful.

Because as we all know the Vatican has always been on the cutting edge of science and social equality.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Wag

Basically, it's warning women that they'll be marrying into a society based on the standards of the Dark Ages if they're not careful.

Because as we all know the Vatican has always been on the cutting edge of science and social equality.

/*spits coffee all over keyboard

😀

 

[Alkaline5]

Originally posted by: Wag

Basically, it's warning women that they'll be marrying into a society based on the standards of the Dark Ages if they're not careful.

Because as we all know the Vatican has always been on the cutting edge of science and social equality.

You mean the Dark Ages? I believe I mentioned that.

 

[0roo0roo]

should be against middle eastern citizens. there have been cases where the men take the children back to that country and the women loses all right to visit or see em. its f&cked up

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Alkaline5
I'm not Catholic but IIRC, the Pope has mentioned before that Christians and Muslims are sister-faiths, so it's more than just about inter-faith marriages.

He did? I'm suprised he would say that as they're two totally different belief systems. When did he say this?

Basically, it's warning women that they'll be marrying into a society based on the standards of the Dark Ages if they're not careful.

It's true! Women are a lower class citizen in Muslim society. They even have a prayer that men say that gives thanks they were not born a woman. The guy at the carry out two blocks away is Muslim and works with his wife. You should hear him talk to her! It's like she's 10 years old or something. Very pitiful to watch.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Alkaline5
Basically, it's warning women that they'll be marrying into a society based on the standards of the Dark Ages if they're not careful.

Technically, it would be far more accurate to say that it's based on the standards of the Rennaissance than the standards of the Medieval period. In the Medieval period women were educated, ran prominent businesses, and while not considered identical to men, they were considered to be an equally necessary compliment to them. The social roles of women were not really bad during the majority of the Medieval period. It was not until the very end of the Medieval period when the Rennaissance was beginning that women began to be subjegated and blamed for things like the entry of sin into the world. I'm not saying that the Medieval period was a walk in the park, but all things considered, I would rather wind up in the Medieval period around Chaucer's time than in the Rennaissance if I were to be thrown backwards through time.

ZV

EDIT: Typos.

 

[Howard]

The title sure is inflammatory. 🙂

 

[dc]

Originally posted by: Alkaline5
I'm not Catholic but IIRC, the Pope has mentioned before that Christians and Muslims are sister-faiths, so it's more than just about inter-faith marriages.

if the pope really did say that, he's more crazy than i thought. 😛

 

[BladeWalker]

While not Catholic myself, I agree with the message. People should marry someone of similar faith to avoid future headaches.

 

[Sophia]

If anyone wants to read the directive in question it is entitled "Erga migrantes caritas Christi"
(The love of Christ towards migrants) and issued by the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

Muslim migrants

65. Today, especially in certain countries, there is a high or growing percentage of Muslim immigrants, for whom this Pontifical Council also expresses its solicitude.

In this regard the Second Vatican Council indicates the attitude to be adopted in the spirit of the gospel, calling for a purification of memory regarding past misunderstandings, to cultivate common values and to clarify and respect diversity, but without renouncing Christian principles62. Catholic communities are therefore called upon to practise discernment. It is a question of distinguishing between what can be and cannot be shared in the religious doctrines and practices and in the moral laws of Islam.

66. Belief in God the Creator and the Merciful, daily prayer, fasting, alms-giving, pilgrimage, asceticism to dominate the passions, and the fight against injustice and oppression are common values to be found in Christianity too, though they may be expressed or manifested in a different manner. Beside these points of agreement there are, however, also divergences, some of which have to do with legitimate acquisitions of modern life and thought. Thinking in particular of human rights, we hope that there will be, on the part of our Muslim brothers and sisters, a growing awareness that fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the healthy lay character of the State are principles that cannot be surrendered. It will likewise be necessary to reach harmony between the vision of faith and the just autonomy of creation63.

67. When, for example, a Catholic woman and a Muslim wish to marry, bearing in mind what is stated in No. 63 and local pastoral judgements, bitter experience teaches us that a particularly careful and in-depth preparation is called for. During it the two fiancés will be helped to know and consciously ?assume? the profound cultural and religious differences they will have to face, both between themselves and in relation to their respective families and the Muslim?s original environment, to which they may possibly return after a period spent abroad.

If the marriage is registered with a consulate of the Islamic country of origin, the Catholic party must beware of reciting or signing documents containing the shahada (profession of the Muslim belief).

In any case, the marriage between a Catholic and a Muslim, if celebrated in spite of all this, requires not only canonical dispensation but also the support of the Catholic community both before and after the marriage. One of the most important tasks of Catholic associations, volunteer workers and counselling services will be to help these families educate their children and, if need be, to support the least protected member of the Muslim family, that is the woman, to know and insist on her rights.

68. Finally as regards the baptism of the children, it is well known that the norms of the two religions are in stark contrast. The problem must therefore be raised with absolute clarity during the preparation for marriage, and the Catholic party must take a firm stand on what the Church requires. Conversion and the request for baptism by adult Muslims also require very careful attention, both because of the particular nature of the Muslim religion and the consequences that follow from this.