A number of Catholic cardinals are warning Italian women against marrying Muslims

Washington Times:

Church officials say some 20,000 mixed marriages took place this year alone, the BBC reported.

The Catholic Church's official position is to encourage dialogue between Rome and other religions, including Islam. But two documents published in Rome have called for extreme caution by Catholic women contemplating marriage to a Muslim, the BBC said.

Vatican Cardinal Stephen Hamao wrote last year about what he called the "bitter experiences" European women have had in marrying Muslims.

The difficulties are compounded if the couple then goes to live in a Muslim country, the cardinal warned.

Cardinal Ruini, the head of the Italian bishops, said last month that in addition to the problems any couple faces setting up a family, Catholics marrying Muslims have to reckon with extra difficulties arising from deep cultural differences.

Cardinals issue marriage warning