The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) - Day 223: Differences in Religion in Marriage (2025)

Episode Date: August 11, 2025

Can a Catholic marry a baptized non-Catholic or a non-baptized person? Fr. Mike breaks down the Church’s teaching on mixed marriages and disparity of cult. The Catechism teaches us that while a difference in religion “does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle for marriage,” it can often be a source of tension in marriage and present significant challenges when raising a family. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1625-1632. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to the Catechism in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's plan of sheer goodness for us, revealed in scripture, and passed down through the tradition of the Catholic faith. The Catechism in a year is brought to you by Ascension. In 365 days, we'll read through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, discovering our identity in God's family as we journey together toward our heavenly home. This is Day 223. We're reading paragraphs 1633 to 1637. As always, I'm using the Ascension edition of the Catechism, which includes the foundations of faith approach, but you can follow along with any recent version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You can also download your own catechism

into your reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash CIY. And you can also click follow or subscribe in your podcast app for daily updates or daily notifications because today is a 223. We're looking at mixed marriages and disparity of cult. We looked at yesterday the invitation, the necessity of matrimonial consent, and what matrimonial consent actually is. Today, we're looking at what happens when there are some irregularities, we'll say it like this, irregularities that do not prohibit people from entering into marriage with each other, but still are things we need to be aware of. So the two kind of things we're looking at here are mixed marriages and disparity of cult, easy for me to say.

A mixed marriage is what? Marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic, disparity of cult would be between a Catholic and a non-baptized person. And so we're looking at some of those, not only how can couples move forward in this, but also the question of what are some of the issues that would come up? Why does the church even have teaching on this? Why does the church even have, I don't want to say an opinion because that's not, there's some things that are disciplines of the church that might be like a theological opinion.

There's other things that are like, here's some, here's some doctrine, here's more serious teaching, more dogma, kind of a situation. But why does the church have a teaching when it comes to marriages, that involve mixed marriages or disparative cult. We're looking at some of those today in our five short paragraphs. So as we jump in, let us call upon the Lord and enter into his presence in this moment. Wherever you're at right now, just recognize that the prayer that we're praying at the beginning of these episodes is not perfunctory, right?

It's not just kind of like this throwaway thing. It actually is all of us not only calling to mind God, but reminding ourselves that we are in God's presence in this moment, wherever you're at right now. Whether you're just sitting on your couch listening to this or if you're in your car, or if you're out for a walk, out for a run, whatever you're doing, God is God is present. And so when we pray, what we're reminding us is that God is present, but also we're calling upon his presence in a unique and particular way. So let's pray. Let's not wait for that. Father in heaven, we give you glory. We thank you for bringing us to this day.

We thank you for the gift of life. We thank you for your teaching. We thank you for the vocations that you've called us to various vocations, some that are named in these episodes and some that are not named in these episodes. We thank you for the variety that exists in your church. And we ask you to please, whatever we find ourselves, whatever state in life, whatever vocation we find ourselves in, help us to be faithful to that. Help us to not resent other people's vocations. Help us to be confident that wherever it is that we are, as long as we're saying yes to you, it is exactly where we should be because it's exactly where we meet you. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen. It is day 223. We're reading paragraphs 1633 to 1637. Mixed marriages and disparity of cult. In many countries, the situation of a mixed marriage, marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic, often arises. It requires particular attention on the part of couples and their pastors. A case of marriage with disparity of cult between a Catholic and a non-baptized person requires even greater circumspection. Difference of confession between the spouses does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle for marriage when they succeed in placing in common what they have received from their respective communities and learn from each other the way in which each lives infidelity to Christ.

But the difficulties of mixed marriages must not be underestimated. They arise from the fact that the separation of Christians has not yet been overcome. The spouses risk experiencing the tragedy of Christian disunity even in the heart of their own home. disparity of cult can further aggravate these difficulties differences about faith and the very notion of marriage but also different religious mentalities can become a source of tension in marriage especially as regards the education of children the temptation to religious indifference can then arise

according to the law enforced in the latin church a mixed marriage needs for lyceity the express permission of ecclesiastical authority in case of disparity of cult an express dispensation from this impediment is required for the validity of the marriage. This permission or dispensation presupposes that both parties know and do not exclude the essential ends and properties of marriage, and furthermore that the Catholic Party confirms the obligations which have been made known to the non-Catholic party of preserving his or her own faith and ensuring that baptism and education of the children in the Catholic Church. Through ecumenical dialogue, Christian communities in many regions

have been able to put into effect a common pastoral practice for mixed marriages. Its task is to help such couples live out their particular situation in the light of faith, overcome the tensions between couples' obligations to each other and towards their ecclesial communities, and encourage the flowering of what is common to them in faith and respect for what separates them. In marriages with disparity of cult, the Catholic spouse has a particular task, for the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. It is a great joy for the Christian spouse and for the church

if this consecration should lead to the free conversion of the other spouse to the Christian faith. Sincere married love, the humble and patient practice of the family virtues, and perseverance and prayer can prepare the non-believing spouse to accept the grace of conversion. All right, there we have them. Paragraphs 1633 to 1637. Again, it's relatively straightforward here. about mixed marriages, disparity of cult, mixed marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized non-Catholic, so someone who's Catholic and Lutheran here is Catholic, evangelical, that kind of

situation, or disparity of cult, which is between a Catholic and a non-baptized person. So between someone who's Catholic and someone who's Jewish or someone who's Muslim or someone who's Hindu or someone who's atheist, just not baptized. It says both of them require attention. You know, we've already covered this, I think pretty, pretty clearly that the church does not look down on other religions, doesn't look down on other Christian communities, but we do believe different things. And we do believe that the fullness of truth subsists in the Catholic Church and the fullness of discipleship following after Jesus subsists in the Catholic Church. And so, yes, there's going to be an issue. Here's the thing. If couples don't care, there might be no issue, right? If couples are not

trying to follow the Lord if they're not actually trying to do God's will, then yeah, maybe there's no issue. But remember, marriage, holy matrimony, is a sacrament of service. It's a sacrament of of vocation. It's a sacrament of discipleship. This is the way in which I am planning on pursuing the Lord. This is the way in which I am planning on serving the church, building up the kingdom of God. So keep that in mind. Let that be the framework. With that in mind, you can recognize how, okay, mixed marriage, that's an issue. Disparity of cult. Okay, that's a pretty big issue. And yet, at the same time, it says in 1634, difference of confession between the spouses, like what they believe and what they profess, does not constitute an insurmountable.

obstacle for marriage. So it's not insurmountable. It's not absolutely prohibited. We recognize that. But what has to happen? It says when they succeed, they have to place their in common what they receive from their respective communities and then learn from each other in the way in which each lives in fidelity to Christ. So can couples help each other get closer to Christ, even if they're not of the same faith? Yeah, I mean, it's possible. So keep that in mind. It's not an insurmountable obstacle for marriage. It's not an impediment for marriage necessarily, right? At the same time, it says, but the difficulties of mixed marriages must not be underestimated. I remember, I don't know if I've mentioned this before, it happened to me twice. It was two times in the span

of two weeks. And so it was one of those notable moments. And in those two occasions, within those two weeks, there were two different couples. And in the couple, one was Catholic, one was I think at the time they were Lutheran. And they both had been married. These two couples had been married into the 20s, maybe 30s of that whole long. And just, I didn't bring it up. They brought it up. They just brought up how hard it was to raise a family, how hard it was to be married when they weren't united in the faith. And actually, this is the part that struck me as being so like, wow, okay, you got my attention now, was both of the couples said, yeah, if we had to do it over again, I would have married someone who is, we shared the same faith.

meaning. I mean, and they were happy couples, right? They had raised their children relatively successfully. I mean, as far as I knew, they had loved each other. They seemed to like each other even in this conversation. And then as that one member happened in both conversations, as the one member of the couple said, yeah, if we had to do it over again, I would have married someone who we showed the same faith, looked at the other person with that kind of bracing for impact. But the other person was just, yep, they're nodding. Like, yeah, I agree. I agree. And I was like, okay, well, how come? And they said, it's just so hard. It said marriage itself on its own. is so difficult, but to not be united in faith makes it even more difficult. Not only that,

but how do you raise your children? Because if you sincerely believe that Hinduism is the way to go and the Catholic Party sincerely believes that Jesus Christ is the way to go, what do you tell your kids? I remember very, very clearly. It was one of those moments I was doing marriage prep with a couple. They were both baptized, but she still went to Mass and she still had her faith and he had renounced his faith. He was an atheist. And at one point, I remember this was early, early on in my being a priest, early on in doing marriage preparation. But at one point I remember, I'm like, okay, I need to, I need to bring this up at some point because it's a big deal. And I asked the question, I mentioned this in other occasions, how are you going to reconcile the fact that when it comes to the biggest

question in life, whether God exists or God doesn't exist, you believe the other person is completely wrong. You believe that the person you're about to covenant your life to, covenant yourself to, you believe that they're completely wrong. How do you guys reconcile that? Remember, what we believe actually matters. Now, there's risks here. In fact, it says, this bouses risk experiencing the tragedy

of Christian disunity even in the heart of their own home. One of the things that I've seen again and again is this temptation to religious indifference that arises when the person you've covenanted yourself with is not pursuing the Lord with their whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. now at the same time you can tell me a thousand different stories of couples who like yeah I was I was so unreligious and and she still married me and then I had a conversion five years ago and here now I'm

you know fully in the Catholic church you know there's a deacon that I've worked with in the past and and that was kind of part of their story was she was the religious one and he wasn't he belonged to a different Christian denomination belong to different ecclesial community and they get married and you know okay he went through RCI and he had this conversion now he's the deacon right so he's then the spiritual leader of the family in this unique way. It's great. It's awesome. And so, and that couple, whenever I talk to them, they're like, oh, no big deal, no problem kind of a thing. And I'm like, okay, well, it wasn't a big deal for you because you kind of early on overcame that. So we know that it's possible, which is really great. That's wonderful.

The question is, is it wise? Now, on the other hand, someone could say, yeah, but here is this other couple I know, or maybe even yourselves who said, we were both Catholic. We were both intent on pursuing the Lord, and it didn't work out. Yes, that's also a reality. That also is a real thing. Just because a husband and wife both profess being Catholic doesn't mean that they're going to stay united, doesn't mean that they're going to love and honor each other in the way that they're promising to love and honor each other. And so, again, it's not just because I checked a certain box that I'm able to move forward in matrimony, or because I can't check a certain box that I'm not able to move forward in matrimony. But what's happening is the church is just inviting people

to be sober, we'll say it like that, to be sober and prudent in making this massively important decision, especially because this doesn't just involve the couple. Remember, the end of marriage is not only the good of the spouses, but the procreation and education of children. The point of marriage is being able to bring new life into this world and to raise that new life in such a way that glorifies God and honors God. You're making saints. That's the whole point. The whole point of getting married is to help your spouse become a saint and to help whatever children that come out of this marriage become saints. That's the point.

Now, even though marriage is ordered to the procreation of children, we know that not every couple is able to have biological children. And so in those cases, couples may choose to adopt, or if they don't have children, they can still live out a fruitful marriage through love, like charity, hospitality, sacrifice. That's what we're all called to. So question, is the way we're setting up our family? is that orienting us more or more clearly towards becoming saints with each other and helping our children become saints?

So, again, all these things are very, very important. Now, if there is mixed marriage or if there is a disparity of cult, the church has the ability to give permission or to give a dispensation from that, and that comes typically from the bishop is where that would come from. And yet, at the same time, the Catholic party will, I think, almost always have to make the declaration, declaration of promise that is, I'm Catholic, I intend to continue to be Catholic. Like, this is my faith, and I intend to continue living out that faith in the Catholic Church. At the same time, I respect the conscience of my future partner in marriage.

So basically they're saying, I'm Catholic. I intend to be Catholic the rest of my life, making that very clear. I also respect the conscience of my future partner in marriage, so they don't believe what I believe. We don't believe what each other believes totally completely. And yet, for my part, I intend to do everything I can to see that our children are baptized and educated as Catholics. Like that oftentimes is the kind of declaration that is made by the Catholic Party and the non-Catholic party has to know that and is aware that, yep, they're not planning on not being Catholic and they are actually planning on when it comes to the big decision of how we raise our kids, they're planning on saying like the decision is we're going to have them baptized and raised and educated and educated and educated, right? Not just we're getting a baptized and then we're never going to go back to church. We're going to get them baptized and educated as Catholics.

Now, last thing, I hope this isn't too rambly. It's an area where I care a lot because I've seen a lot of these marriages. Maybe this will be the episode that gets the most emails and gets the most letters because I know that people who are listening, y'all who are listening, part of this community, we all have different backgrounds. And some of those backgrounds are, yeah, I experienced that brokenness of this. Someone could say, actually, I experienced that there's been so much fruit that's come out of the difference that my spouse and I have.

or even the conversion that has happened in our marriage and in our lives. Our kids are alive in faith, and that's amazing. Those are all good things. Those are all real things that I'm not, hopefully, that you're not getting the impression that I'm diminishing any of those realities or dismissing any of those realities. That, yes, conversion is possible. Yes, a flourishing family is possible. Yes, I don't disagree that.

I just like that the fact that these five paragraphs here in the catechism address, here is marriage in God's planet, here's marriage under the regime of sin, and here's marriage just in this world where, you know, we don't live in a Catholic country, and we don't even necessarily live in a Christian country. We live in a country with a lot of pluralism in that sense of I couldn't find a Catholic spouse. I couldn't find someone who believed everything I believed who was also a really good person, who's also noble. I completely understand that. The amazing thing, I think, is that wherever we find ourselves, whether that's unmarried, whether that is married to someone that we share the faith or can't share the faith or don't share

the faith, whatever, wherever we find ourselves, the call of the moment is always to say yes to God. What is the life that God is presenting right in front of us? It's not necessarily going to be perfect, right, because we live in an imperfect world. We live in a broken world. And yet every one of us is called to give God our yes in this moment, to give God our yes in this circumstance. So whatever circumstance you might find yourself, whatever moment you might find yourself or season you might find yourself in, that doesn't mean you can't be a saint. You can't give God your yes. Because that's what it is to be a saint, to say yes to God and never stop saying yes. And so, yes, we live in this in this world where it's not perfect, but we always,

always have the opportunity and the invitation from God to say. yes. So my invitation in my life right now, in my vocation, I want to say yes right now to God. Wherever you are right now in your vocation, whatever the circumstances or season is, yes, just say yes. And I'm praying for you that you do that. Please pray for me that I do that. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.