What should I expect the priest to ask if we are getting married in the Catholic Church and I'm not Catholic?

I am Baptist and my Fiance is Catholic. We are trying to get married in the Catholic church. What should I expect?What should I expect the priest to ask if we are getting married in the Catholic Church and I'm not Catholic?
There are some things that might be specific to your fiance's parish (like what the priest discusses with you). But there are three promises that are universal and that you as the non-Catholic partner would need to agree to:





1) Attending a pre-cana or pre-marriage course.


2) Not preventing your fiance from practicing his faith.


3) Raising the children in the Catholic faith.





This last one is usually a sticking point with some people but since it is part of the marriage vows in the ceremony the priest makes sure that you (as the non-Catholic partner) are aware of it and accept it. It doesn't mean that you have to go to Mass or teach Catechism, all it means is that you won't prevent your partner from taking the children to Mass and you will allow the children to go to Catechism classes and receive their childhood sacraments (Baptism, Reconciliation and Communion). A previous poster explained quite well why this is part of the requirements. And I have never heard of it being left out.





You won't have to convert. I just want to get that out.





For the actual ceremony you can choose to have a full Nuptial Mass or you can choose to just do the wedding ceremony part of it and to omit the Eucharist.





Good luck with everything.What should I expect the priest to ask if we are getting married in the Catholic Church and I'm not Catholic?
It's basically beefed up premarital counseling. You see, for Catholic, marriage is a Sacrament (equal to Baptism), so there is significant preparation for the Lord's role...also, since the Catholic Church is opposed to divorce, they do their best to get the couple to talk about many different issues BEFORE marriage so that there is less risk of serious problems afterwards.





Catholics consider Baptists to be Christians, so that will be assumed. However, most Catholics are well aware that there are some Baptist preachers who teach that Catholics aren't Christians. You might expect to get a question or two about your feelings there.





Then there will be the issue of children. Catholics are not allowed to use birth control, so that will be something to discuss, and, of course, the various issues related to Sacraments, as your spouse-to-be is obligated to raise the children Catholic, including having them baptized young and all of that. You don't have to help -- as a Baptist, you wouldn't be expected to be able to -- but you have to promise to not interfere.
When a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, you can expect the priest to ask you to promise to raise your children in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church want to promote Catholic families, traditions and upbringings. That's why they ask. They want to make sure you're getting married in the church for the right reason. Part of getting married is having children and raising them. The Catholic Church wants you to promise to raise your children Catholic, because your marriage was recognized by the Church; therefore, your family (like your marriage) should be Catholic.





You'll also be asked to take a pre-cana class, which talks about marriage, children, communication and how God plays a role in enhancing and enriching your marriage.





Also, you do not have to convert.
Traditionally a Nuptial Mass was only performed when both bride and groom were Catholic. Today though most diocese do not impose this requirement as long as one of you is catholic. A nuptial mass takes about 1 hour with the actual wedding ceremony taking only 20 minutes of this time. The trend is starting to lead away from including mass as part of the ceremony, so it all depends on your parish.





Usually the bride and her father follow her bridesmaids to the alter where the groom and the priest are waiting. Her father presents her to the groom. The bride and groom remain in front of the alter, kneeling, sitting and standing at different times throughout the ceremony. The clergyman presiding makes an introduction before the scriptures are read. After the reading, he gives a short sermon addressed to the couple , reflecting the spirit of the occasion.





The couple then exchange vows. According to Catholic belief, this exchange of commitment is when the marriage bond is sealed. The priest then blesses the rings, and the couple place them on each other fingers. A wedding prayer then follows. Mass continues with prayers, music, and Holy Communion.





Many diocese have a policy of requiring 6 months notice to set a wedding date to prevent hasty marriages. You may also be required to attend a series of prenuptial discussions.
Seeing as you and your fiance are of different denominations, you should probably expect the priest to say something along the lines of:





'Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?'





To which you should reply:





'You've got to be kidding me. I've been further even more decided to use even go need to do look more as anyone can. Can you really be far even as decided half as much to use go wish for that? My guess is that when one really been far even as decided once to use even go want, it is then that he has really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like. It's just common sense.'
It could be because i have a pretty liberal priest and that we are in CA, but my priest is offering to take out the ';raising your kids catholic part.'; So you should ask if that is something you don't feel you want to pledge. (In my case, it is my duty if i want to raise my kids Catholic and my fiance doesn't' have to). You will have to take the classes and they don't really put you on the spot too much. They will prob ask you why you are getting married in the church, but you can choose to just have a ceremony and not a full mass. (Some churches won't even do a mass for a non-catholic since you will be left out of the Eucharist).


Good luck. They are a lot less scary than they appear!
My Priest hasn't asked my fiance to convert. My fiance would like to join the Catholic church and will before our wedding if he is able to (he travels extensively for work). The non-Catholic does not have to promise to raise the children Catholic, but the Catholic does. My parish is not very liberal and closely follows that Vatican and the Catachism and my Priest did say that we would discuss our living situation (we have lived together for 8 years) but he also said that he understands since I wasn't Catholic when I moved in with my fiance and that although he doesn't condone it he wouldn't ask us to stop living together with a only a year left until our wedding.
You don't have to convert, but they will ask that you raise your children in the Catholic church. They basically make you promise it. You have to take classes and meet with the priest before the wedding also.
They are going to try and get you to convert, They have some classes you have go to so they can tell sex before being married bad00 and of sorts of goody two shoes stuff
He'll ask you if you have a little brother.