If neither has married before - Can a Catholic and a Protestant marry?

Answer 1

Answer from a Catholic (Catholics in union with the Pope)

Yes. In the United States, many Catholics and Protestants marry. This U.S. answerer continues to practice her Catholic faith and her husband remains firmly a Protestant. We had a Catholic wedding.

Answer 2

Yes. there may be some "rules" to be obeyed if they want to get married in a Catholic church though. For example he might need to prove he's been baptised and they might need permission from a Bishop.

Depends where you are - as the local priest.

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Catholic AnswerNormally a Catholic is forbidden to marry outside the faith. For a "mixed marriage" as you describe, you need to have permission from your Bishop. You would need to speak with your pastor and discuss your reasons for doing this. If you have good enough reasons - which should be very good, then he can apply for the permission you need if the two of you go through pre-Cana classes, and are showing good faith. You need to be sure that you can live your faith and raise the children in the faith. As one man I used to work with used to say, "you're going to be dead for a long time." Although I don't agree with his phrasing, the point is that you are only on earth for a short period of time. The reason God put you on earth is to serve Him and to prepare yourself to enter heaven. In other words, the reason you would marry a Methodist is that you somehow discern that it is God's Will for you do so, and that in doing so, you will be furthering the chances of your eternal salvation AND his. Remember, marriage means that you are responsible for helping your spouse attain heaven, as well as working out your own salvation. My personal advice is to take this veryslowly. Take a year or more to make sure that your faith is firmly established, and to get to know this man better so that you are absolutely positive that you are not endangering your soul, or your children's souls. Any man that is worthwhile and really loves a Catholic woman should be more than willing to genuinely convert and then the two of you would be working together towards the same end.

Answer 3

If you mean in the Catholic Church:

No, not if the Catholic was married in a valid Catholic ceremony - the previous marriage needs to be annulled. If the Catholic was married by a justice of peace, then the Catholic can be married without annulment, but then it depends on the protestant party - if married in protestant church that marriage will need to be annulled, unless the precious spouse was a Catholic and married by a Justice of Peace. So in general, no; Please talk with a priest.