[BigWorrier135]

Not so long ago I got talking to a guy that I really like, and I discovered he really likes me too. We talked about maybe starting a relationship, and were both quite keen. We decided to get to know each other better first. We are both 14.

At first it went really well, we were almost always chatting... Then all of a sudden he has started acting funny: ignoring texts and IMs and emails. He has been at work experience and he is probably just tired or whatever... But another possibility has been playing on my mind.

He is a Catholic, and he really strongly believes in his faith.
I am a non-Catholic Christian (from a new frontiers church to be exact).
I was wondering if this has anything to do with it?

Are there any rules or guidances for Catholics that say a Catholic should not date a non-Catholic Christian?
Or date at all?
Basically, is it possible that he told someone higher up in his church - his dad or sponsor maybe? - about me and us maybe dating, and they have advised against it (or even said he can't date me, end of) due to my religion?
If so can that be explained?

I'm sorry for my ignorance but I do not understand much about the differences between Catholicism and "Puritans".

Thank you in advance, I hope my question makes sense x

[Wondergirl]

His being a Catholic has nothing to do with it. Either he got bored with things or there is some other reason, but it's NOT because he is Catholic.

Catholics are Christian too, by the way. They are the first Christian church that existed, that grew out of the New Testament gatherings.

[talaniman]

You could always just ask him and not get carried away by your own assumptions, or ours for that matter.

Then you will have the facts from the horses mouth.

[ScottGem]

Actually I believe it could have had something to do with it. If a Catholic is not married within the church, the marriage may not recognized by the church. So it is possible that a parent or church leader may have suggested the relationship had no future.

Whether that's what DID happen you won't know unless you ask.

[BigWorrier135]

Actually I believe it could have had something to do with it. If a Catholic is not married within the church, the marriage may not recognized by the church. So it is possible that a parent or church leader may have suggested the relationship had no future.

But I am a Christian, even if I'm not a catholic. Lucky for me we just studied catholic marriage in RE, and (from what I understand) to get married in a catholic church only 1 partner needs to be a catholic. I would be willing to marry in a catholic church with a catholic ceremony... But at 14 we are only dating, not thinking about marriage an whether the relationship has a future.

[dontknownuthin]

I think you should just ask him because there are a lot of reasons he may be cooling on the relationship.

If he or his family have a religious vocation in mind for him, that could be why he is not interested in dating - that is, if he's very devout perhaps he is considering the priesthood? The CAtholic church teaches that the purpose of dating is for discerning the potential of marriage, so if a boy is committed to entering seminary to become a priest, he would be counseled not to date.

Catholics are also taught not to engage in premarital sex, and today that can be difficult when young teens often jump way ahead into sexual relationships. He may feel in danger of sinning in this way if he spends too much time with you, or is in an exclusive relationship as young as 14.

His parents may not approve of him dating because you are both very young. And he could have just lost interest in you, or find the relationship was too much - time, attention, intensity or whatever.

I doubt at his age he's worried about where you would get married and Catholics can and often do marry people of other faiths, and many people, particularly if they are Christian, do convert to the faith when they marry a Catholic.