RELIGION vs MARRIAGE: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS

I am not exempted from this at all,we make so many decisions and statements like why we can not marry or be with some one who is not of the same religion with us. The worst is the ones that are of the same religion especially the christians who would never marry from any other church but theirs. i have a friend who falls into this category, she never makes friends with any other person aside her church members reason is so you wont push her against her faith infact our friendship is solely a miracle to have survived thus far. When we became friends,she met this very nice man who was not of the same church, she decided to break her boundaries and accept the man but the issue were her parents. The never accepted the young man when he came to meet them and to declare his intentions of marrying their daughter,she has been pleading with her father who his only reason for rejecting the man is because as a pastor his only daughter must marry from their church if possible a fellow pastor. Dear blog readers i need your opinion on this. Should religion be the highest criteria when choosing a marriage partner, should it be placed above love and understanding.. your comments would be appreciated