Interview with Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Msgr. Jean Laffitte
What is the position of the Catholic doctrine on mixed and interfaith marriages?
«The term ‘mixed marriage’ applies only to marriages between Christians of different confessions, Catholics, Orthodox or Protestants, in other words, between the baptized. Marriage between people of different faiths is called ‘marriage with disparity of cult.’ For mixed marriages, a dispensation is given by ecclesiastical authority. This is very widespread in many countries, including in Europe. In Germany, for example, families composed of Catholics and Lutherans constitute half the population. These unions don’t present particular difficulties because the bride and groom both refer to Christ. However, it’s not trivial to love someone who doesn’t share the same religious confession; this can have consequences for active participation in the faith life, and therefore the Christian who wants to participate must actively address the problem of whether the spouse could obstruct religious practice. The Catholic faith connects marriage to a greater mystery of union between Christ the Bridegroom and His Bride, the Church. For Catholics, marriage is a sacrament —the seventh one— and therefore it’s not only a sign of the the couple’s desire to be united but also the sign of the union of Christ with the Church and of the baptized with Christ. Marriage, for the Catholic Church, is not only the union between a man and a woman but also a mystery of the Church. When marrying a person of a different faith, it’s necessary to consider the following questions beforehand: with respect to the practice of the cult, how will the family live the Christian faith, for example, through shared prayer; the confession in which children will be baptized and educated is a very important issue in the married couple’s life, and can’t go unanswered or be left for family life after the wedding. To get permission to marry from the ecclesiastical authority, the parents must be ready to baptize their children and educate them in the Catholic faith. There is, finally, another problem related to the concept of marriage, because it’s a sacrament only for Catholics, and not for Protestants. The latter, consequently, don’t believe in the indissolubility of marriage, because they don’t believe that it is also a mystery of spouses’ union with Christ; therefore, they allow divorce and remarriage. For Catholics, on the contrary, in marriage, Christ enters into an alliance with the bride and the groom that, by its very nature, is irrevocable, and hence lasts until the death of one of the spouses. These are important issues that require dedicated pastoral care».
What is, on the other hand, the condition of the spouses with a disparity of cult?
«In this case, we’re talking about marriage of a Christian spouse with a non-Christian. It’s impossible here to make a detailed analysis of the specific problems relating to the unions, for example, with a Hindu, a Buddhist or a Shintoist. There are, however, very many and often insurmountable difficulties that been investigated and included in studies and research by the Bishops’ Conferences of the countries where the phenomenon is more commonly found or by academic institutions (such as the ‘John Paul II’ Institute for Marriage and Family). Marriages between believers of the monotheistic religions, especially between Catholics and Muslims, however, are most widespread in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and some Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and India. An express dispensation from the impediment is required for the validity of the marriage. In order for this authorization to be granted, there must be an agreement between the parties concerning the objective and the essential properties of marriage. The Catholic makes the other person aware his/her commitment to maintain and practice the faith as well as to baptize and educate their children in the Catholic Church. So, from the beginning, the specific difficulty of Muslim-Christian marriages can be seen. Islamic tradition demands that Muslim children be brought up in the religion of the Muslim father. In some countries, where Islamic law has been introduced, marriage between Christians and Muslims is even banned. ON the other hand, there are positive experiences of Muslim-Christian marriages in some countries, where the two religions have been living together for a long time, for example in Lebanon. However, most of the problems arise over time, after years of married life, in conflict over their children's education, in how women are seen or just in the difference of religious fervor of the husband and the wife with respect to their faith. I have known families with disparity of cult who are apparently serene, but in which the one practicing was Muslim. The risk, for Catholics, may then be the prevalence of religious indifference, and for the Christian spouse, content with respecting the Muslim spouse, refusing to give visible witness of his/her faith in Jesus Christ».
The bishops of the Middle East have redacted a joint document on Pastoral Care for mixed marriages and those with disparity of cult. Is this a new feature that shows a growing social phenomenon?
«The document ‘Mixed Marriages in Lebanon. Realities and Challenges’ presents an interesting synthesis, not only in the Catholic perspective, with attention to the concrete circumstances of couples of different confessions, by giving an accurate sociological and pastoral analysis, with reference to Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries. In these situations, the judgment is positive when the conditions are right for family life that is respectful of the values and goals of marriage, and a common faith in God helps both parties to weave together an authentic communion of life and love».
