MANDALAY, Myanmar (UCAN) -- It is an open secret that Peter Tin Myint has been "living in sin," as he puts it, for 30 years.

The 60-year-old Catholic is a regular churchgoer at St. Joseph's Church in Mandalay, 580 kilometers north of Yangon, but that does not solve the problem.

Three decades ago, Tin Myint married a Buddhist in a Buddhist wedding rite. Because they did not marry in the Catholic Church, he was regarded as "living in sin," and could not receive Communion.

Entering his twilight years and fearful that he "will not receive a Catholic burial," Tin Myint has finally obtained his wife's consent to "get married" in a Catholic rite. Technically, they will not be remarried at St. Joseph's Church but rather will have their marriage rectified.

"Mixed marriage is like a cart with only one wheel rolling," he told UCA News on June 27, referring to the many local Catholics married to Buddhists and the difficulty these couples face trying to satisfy both religions.

Father John Mg San, parish priest of neighboring St. Michael's Church, acknowledges the problem is not limited to only a few people. He told UCA News mixed marriages are "on the rise." Catholics number 23,506 among a largely Buddhist population of 15 million in Mandalay archdiocese.

The priest claims 50 percent of married churchgoers in his parish are married to non-Catholics. Although he would prefer not to marry spouses of different religions, Catholics not married in a Catholic ceremony "will live in sin," he said. So when he can, he marries them.

Like Tin Myint, several other married regular churchgoers are unable to receive Communion because of their marital status.

"Mixed marriage is a mistake for most people because of the hardship one faces due to religious differences," Tin Myint claimed, saying he cannot practice his religion alongside his spouse. "I feel sad when I think about the state of my life, not being able to receive Communion or participate fully, especially at Christmas and Easter."

Sometimes he fears his wife is encouraging him to change his religion and worries his life is "on the wrong path."

Father Mg San understands the minority Catholic community and shows some flexibility within the stipulations of canon law.

"The only advice I can give is to Catholic partners, advising them to practice their religion well and not force the other party to join his or her religion, to have respect for the other party's religion," he said.

If the Catholic party shows a good example, the wife or husband will respect his or her religion.

The Catholic party must do her or his best to raise the couple's children according to Catholic teachings, he added.

If a Catholic like Tin Myint wants to get married in church, Father Mg San said, they must accept penance given by the parish priest, such as saying the rosary or attending Sunday Mass for a period of time. After this their marriage can be rectified and accepted by the Church.

Ronald Naing Toe, 31, from St. Michael Parish, who married a Buddhist three years ago, told UCA News he and his wife wanted to be married in a Catholic church but his wife's Buddhist family would not allow it.

"Until now, there is no misunderstanding about religion between us," he said. "We follow our religious views freely and my wife reminds me to attend Mass." But he worries about the future and the consequences should their marriage break up someday.

Father Mg San said he too worries that partners may not keep promises they make before marriage to respect each other's religion and to allow the spouse or their children to practice their religion.

Parishioner Paul Tun Lwin, 40, who was married in the Catholic Church and whose children are baptized, told UCA News his wife now does not permit their children to attend church.

"When the children grow up," he said, "they can choose whichever religion they wish to follow."

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