I have been married to a man who is baptized Catholic. I am baptized Orthodox. A few years back, he introduced himself to my parents. He had told my parents and I that he was very interested in becoming Orthodox and that he loved it after he met with the Coptic Orthodox priest and attended the Sunday liturgy at our church a few times to learn more about Orthodoxy in an effort to be baptized at my Coptic Orthodox Church and finally happily marry me.
Then everything changed and I couldn't help myself...temptation was very great and I failed.. as I followed him away from my parents... he decided he wasn't ready for the whole conversion thing and that he was happy being Catholic. We were in love with each other and didn't want to leave each other, and the only way to do this was to leave my parents' house and run away. I lived with him until we were married after 2 years and of course I wasn't married inside my church, we were just legally married and had a small wedding with a few of our friends attending.
it's been 5 years since my tragic exit from my parents house telling them I'm leaving to live my life with this 21 year old, at the time, and thats what I was choosing.
I've been away from God, because I was scared. I knew he didn't accept me anymore, and that's just what I feel. .. I used to teach a Sunday school class at my church and I loved it, and wanted to continue but I was so ashamed of my myself I stopped going. What would be the right thing to do now. Can I continue to be married to this man and live my life as an Orthodox at church and with God and ask for his forgiveness? I just want God's acceptance and I want to feel His presence Again.
Comments
I don't understand, did you not get married in any church at all? Is your husband a practising christian? What is your relationship like together? Is God part of it?
It must have been a difficult few years, leaving your family and life like that. But I understand, human love can make us do crazy things.
Your husband would need to be willing to be involved in church. What is his opinion about the whole thing now? Does he understand your guilt feelings and pain? If I was in a relationship, I'd hope my partner would be concerned about my wellbeing. I'd be worried if he didn't care about my feelings.
Find a friendly priest and speak to him together. If your husband is trying to be a good person, he can make the effort to become part of your church and with a simple ceremony, you can be married in church. I can imagine some priests might be arrogant and unhelpful in your situation..avoid these ones, because what is done is done, you are already married. You need a member of clergy who will help rather than make the situation worse.
I am coptic. But over the years I have opened my eyes to the fact that Catholics are christians too (provided they are actually practising and it's not just a label). Of course each denomination will claim that they are the right ones. so if your husband is a devout catholic, it may not be as bad as it seems. But if he is not living a christian life at all, I don't know what to say.
How is it that you make the assumption that AnonumouslyLoved herself was willing to convert to the Catholic Church. AnonymouslyLoved made it clear that her intention was that her husband converts, as planned. As well, from her description about Sunday school and love for the church, do you think it would be that easy for her to just leave? Finally, I don't think that her parents rejected the idea of her converting, it just seems to be as if it was never a consideration, again according to the plan.