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Should I avoid having children if my husband refuses to raise them Catholic?

The Sacraments

The short answer

No; you were misinformed. The Church does not expect you to close yourself to children because your husband is not Christian. It expects you to do your best to raise them Catholic and to work out an agreement with your husband now.

You have been misinformed. The Church does not expect you to close yourself to children because your husband is not Christian. It expects you to do your best to raise them Catholic.

If your husband was Catholic when you married, he should respect that you both entered marriage agreeing to raise the children Catholic. If he was not, you took a chance that he would let you raise them Catholic and not interfere with their Catholic education. That is one reason the Church strongly discourages interfaith marriages, while providing for their validity if the couple insists.

Marriage includes being open to new life and building a family with your husband. Do not deny him children of his own because of what you fear he might do. Sit down with him now, share your concerns, and work out an agreement on how your children will be raised, with a marriage counselor's help if needed.