Vatican Discourages Marriage With Muslims for Christian Women

May 15, 2004
Vatican Discourages Marriage With Muslims for Christian Women
By ALAN FEUER

ROME, May 14 - In an official church document released Friday, the
Vatican discouraged marriage between Christians and Muslims,
especially Christian women and Muslim men.

When "a Christian woman and a Muslim wish to marry," the document
says, "bitter experience teaches us that a particularly careful and
in-depth preparation is called for."

It also says "profound cultural and religious differences" exist
between the two faiths, particularly concerning the rights of women,
who are referred to as "the least protected member of the Muslim
family."

The document, written by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care
of Migrants and Itinerant People, sets these issues in a context of
globalism and easy travel that encourages the mixing of religions.
Although it makes no mention of the conflicts in the Middle East, its
release comes during a time of heightened anger in the Muslim world.

The document indicates several points of commonality between 
Christianity and Islam, like a belief in God, daily prayer, fasting,
charity, pilgrimage and "the fight against injustice."

At the same time, it gently chides Muslims for faltering on the issue
of human rights.

"We hope there will be, on the part of our Muslim brothers and
sisters," its authors write, "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."

The Vatican has long encouraged Christians to marry within the faith,
and the current document - an 80-page booklet titled "The Love of
Christ Towards Migrants" - makes that point again. It says marriage
between Christians and all non-Christians "should be discouraged,"
mainly for the sake of children.

Earlier this week, the Roman Catholic Church released a similar
document expressing its disdain for same-sex unions.

In a pointed reference to Islam, the document released Friday
said, "It is well known that the norms of the two religions are in
stark contrast."

If Christians do choose to marry Muslims, the document says, they must
be sure to baptize their children and avoid signing Islamic documents
or swearing oaths, including the "shahada," Islam's profession of
faith.

All Christians, it warns, "must take a firm stand on what the church
requires."