I met a girl

[Niceclo]

Hello, I have been seeing a catholic girl for almost a year now and am wondering how I can approach her views from another angle. I grew up catholic, believing Jesus died for our sins, and believing in God. However I have yet to complete the reading of the bible, and don't attend church regularly, in her eyes I probably am not a catholic, or at least not a good one.

It seems to me that she had a sheltered upbringing and is very strict on all the rules of the bible and is almost engulfed by it. I really like this girl and am thinking we need a common ground, meaning I should be more religious, and she is a bit less.

How do I approach this topic sensitively? I was thinking first start out by asking her what she thinks of other churches who believe in God and Jesus the same as she does, but they don't take the bible as literal, are they going to hell in her eyes? The idea here is to simply propose the notion that we can live a life here on earth, while believing God and Jesus; trying not to sin, but when we do, we ask for forgiveness, meanwhile not being obsessed with the bible. Like what if I''m going somewhere for the weekend and miss church, to her that is a mortal sin and will end up in hell because of that. She's spoken of study organizations for the bible as well, but not much else.

Thank you

[anawim]

While it's possible that she may be a little too scrupulous, nevertheless, she's right about missing Mass. If you go someplace for the weekend, that offers Mass, then you are still obligated to go.

[Kage_ar]

Like what if I''m going somewhere for the weekend and miss church, to her that is a mortal sin and will end up in hell because of that.

This is a topic where there needs to be a lot more information.

Assisting at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is a basic precept of the Church. To miss mass intentionally without a dispensation/just reason is a grave sin and could be mortal.

There are, however, more caveats. First, if you ask beforehand, your pastor may dispense you from your obligation. You are automatically dispensed if you are caring for the sick or a child, if you are not able to get to Mass (think dangerous roads because of weather or you are on vacation in a place where there is no Catholic parish, you are perhaps a tourist without means to get a ride to Mass). Maybe you looked online and it said St Thus and Such has Mass at 10 AM on Sunday. You arrive to find out they have not updated their website and Mass was actually at 9 AM with no other Masses that Sunday. You might be scheduled to work where you cannot get to any Sat Vigils or Sunday masses.

My advice, study the Faith. The Catechism, the US Catechism for Adults are both available online.

I am not sure what you mean by "obsessed" with the Bible, it sounds as if she may have more scrupulous tendencies. In my mind, this would be a deal killer for a relationship until she can recognize the issue and get some help with it.

[Niceclo]

Thank you for your responses.