My older sis (she's almost 27) married a GREAT guy who is a "cradle Catholic." It became very clear that he wasn't going to be anything other than that, in spite of rarely attending Mass and not being very "Catholic" in his views. I DID recommend a Lutheran or a traditional/conservative Anglican church to them - but...
Anyway, my sis is in RCIA classes. He won't go with her. She asks him questions - but it's OBVIOUS he doesn't know or doesn't agree with the RC position. She began asking her sponsors (with whom they have become personal friends) but they seem amazingly unaware of Catholic doctrine. IRONCIALLY, she phones ME with her questions (you have no idea what our Catholics around here would say about that, LOL). Anyway, I give her a lot of credit for trying to make it all work...
It is MY view that Lutherans (and IF you can find it - conservative/traditional Anglican) has a very special position in Christianity. We are "first wave" Protestants who are really quite close to Catholicism - in fact, Catholics OFTEN like Lutheranism even more than Catholicism! And we are the original Protestants, we're the ones who taught everyone else about Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Sola Fide, Soli Deo Gloria, as well as the praxis of Sola Scriptura. The Gospel is VERY clear and central. Protestants find Lutheranism refreshingly focused, simple, Christ-centered and biblical. It's an excellent "meeting point." It's a popular one, too! Nearly half of the members of my Lutheran parish are former Catholics (that doesn't include people like me that were never OFFICIALLY Catholic - just active there). In most of the cases, they searched out Lutheran because of a "mixed marriage" - discovering that not only is Lutheranism acceptable to each - but each actually prefers it.
A word, though. Lutheranism cranks out a bit differently in different congregations (as is true in most denominations). MY parish is very open to Catholics. Most of the people cross themselves, there's weekly Sacrament, even the contemporary service is pretty liturgical. And while the pastor is VERY Lutheran ( and I strongly suspect less 'open' to some Catholic views than I am), he does speak of Tradition, liturgy, Sacrament, etc. (He dresses very informally; I wonder why he NEVER wears a colar?). Anyway, a Catholic would instantly feel very "at home" at my church. But that's not the case in all Lutheran churches, I understand. You MAY need to visit more than one. You may need to "chat" with the pastor concerning his views.
May God bless you on your journey, and I pray that WHEREVER you "land" that you will do so as a couple and that it will be a rich blessing to our souls, marriage and family....
Pax
- Josiah
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