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"^ L 7 "6 u r feels as any father would, -i- greatly concerned about the future hap piness of his boy. I have always tried to “shoot square” with you, to give you the facts, to trust your good judgment in making the proper decisions. Now that you are thinking of marrying a Catholic, there are some facts which you should bear in mind. You ought to know about the contract which every non-Catholic has to sign before the Catholic is allowed to marry. In it you will find these statements: “1 will not interfere in the least with the free exercise of the Catholic.party’s religion. “I agree that all the children, both boys and girls, that may be born of this union shall be baptized and educated solely in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, even in the event of the death of my Catholic consort. “I agree that I will lead a married life in con formity with the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding birth control, realizing fully the attitude of the Catholic Church in this regard. “I agree that no other marriage ceremony shall take place before or after this ceremony by the Cath olic priest.” To this, my son, you are asked to “solemnly swear.” In the light of the above fact, I should like to submit five points for you to think about. 1. Marriage should be on a 5.0-50 basis, each one of the couple being fair and tolerant toward the other’s beliefs. But if you marry a Catholic, you are expected to keep silent about your religion even within your own home. You swear that you will not confess and defend your own faith before your children. Why? Because Roman Catholics claim that there is only one legitimate religion. You are not allowed to say to your wife and children that Jesus Christ died for our sins and that all who receive Him by repentance and faith are guaranteed eternal life. That would be interfering with their religion. 2. Your children, by such a marriage, will not be allowed even to attend their father’s church. Son, you were reared to believe that every individual has a right to know both sides of a question and to make up his mind for himself. You will want the privilege for your son. Do not saddle him, before he is conceived, with a vow that he will “be f a t h e r
baptized and educated solely in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church.” 3. The Catholic requirements for marriage with a non-Catholic are an insult to every other faith. Besides requiring you to be married by a priest, they forbid you to ask a similar ceremony and blessing of your own pastor. This is a repudiation of all other ministers and churches. For example, if you and your fiancee should decide to have a Baptist or Presbyterian minis ter perform the ceremony, the church to which she belongs would excommunicate her and deny her com munion on the grounds that she is living in adultery. Children bom to this union would be looked upon by her church as illegitimate. 4. In addition to the contract you will find this significant statement: “The Catholic party promises that he (or she) will endeavor to bring the non-Catholic into the fold of the Roman Catholic Church.” Remem ber that you will have already signed a statement that YOU “will not interfere in the least” with her religion, and that the children will be “educated solely in her faith. I ask you, is that fair? Is this the Golden Rule taught by our Master? 5. In the last place son, as an American citizen and a Protestant, you believe that every individual has the right to worship or to refuse to worship God as he sees fit. Remember the words of Scripture so clearly teach ing, “Be ye not unequally yoked together.” Your par ents love you and want only God’s best for your life. You are in our every thought and prayer.
open letter
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