An interfaith marriage is between two people of different religions either in a church or a civil ceremony. Some religions prohibit their people to join in a mixed marriage. The Jewish faith has three reasons for prohibiting interfaith marriage. According to Jewish law any children born take on the religion of the mother. It is against the Torah to marry out of the religion because it will reduce the number of Jewish people. Finally, the definition of the contract is between to Jewish people. Even having sex with a non-Jewish person is forbidden. The conservatives of the Jewish faith have been far more understanding of these marriages.
Reform and Progressive Jews do not prohibit these marriages. The Rabbi’s will even perform these ceremonies with retribution from other Rabbi’s. The Christian faith does prefer marriage between Christian people but does not forbid anything. Catholic’s are not in favor of mixed marriages but do not excommunicate anyone married outside the faith.
My marriage ceremony was very interesting as it is a mixed marriage between a Catholic and a Jew. We were able to get a priest and a rabbi to perform the service in a Catholic church under a chuppah in front of the alter. It contained many of the symbolisms of both faiths and was a pleasant experience for all that attended. It is possible to compromise and not offend either family.
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