MPriya (-) 23 June 2013

Marrying a christian (roman catholic)

I belong to the Hindu religion and I am in love with a guy who is a Christian (Roman Catholic).

We are in the relationship for about 2 years. We want to get married soon (since I am 2 years elder to the guy).

We wish to get married in front of everyone in a church.

His family and he are not forcing me to convert to christianity but his church pastors do. They are forcing me to convert and they say that they will not allow us to marry in the church if I don't get baptized.

I know to get married in a temple, he doesn't have to convert. But I do not like asking him about it and I have not asked him about it at all, since he likes to get married in a church, even I do.

I am completely against conversion (to any religion. Even if I was born as a christian, I would not convert).

I feel like it is totally separating me from my family. I just do not like the concept.

But I really love him and want to marry him as soon as possible.

What is the best way to proceed? I need advice please.

I am happy if we can get married in a church like he wishes (in front of all our friends and relatives).

But I am not sure how does that work since I really do not want to convert, I hate it.

Can some one help me?

If there is something we have to pay for it, like a fee, we are ready for that.

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6 Replies

adv. rajeev ( rajoo ) (practicing advocate) 23 June 2013

It is better to take a firm decision. You both discuss about this again and take the decision without hurting each other.

Adv Archana Deshmukh (Practicing Advocate) 23 June 2013

Neither you can validly marry in a church nor in a temple without either of you converting. You can validly marry only under the special marriage act.

MPriya (-) 23 June 2013

We will of course register our marriage under the special act. But for the sake of friends and relatives, we like to have the marriage in a church (again without converting). We will register under special marriage act after that. Isn't that possible?

Adv Archana Deshmukh (Practicing Advocate) 23 June 2013

Your marriage solominzed under the special marriage act will be the only valid marriage. Rest, you can do anything like marrying in church or temple for the satisfaction of your families, but it won't have any legal validity.

(Guest)

Inter-religion marriage, very big headache. Just think before tying the knot, to knot or not to knot!

Nadeem Qureshi (Advocate/ nadeemqureshi1@gmail.com) 24 June 2013

Dear Priya

there is no procedure to marry a hindu with a another religian guy in Temple or a christian Guy married with non-christian girl in church. iof you think that your marriage will be solamanized as per religious rites and rituals then conversion is mendatory.