A Question Regarding Marrying Non-Catholics

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Starwynd

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I’m wondering if this is true. When a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, is the non-Catholic required to sign a document that says that the non-Catholic must agree to not interfere in any way shape or form with the Catholic’s faith? Such as asking to not go to church?

And what are the rules for a Catholic to marry a non Catholic?
 
no
the Church laws on marriage are binding on Catholics
the Catholic party must obtain a dispensation to marry a non-Catholic, and must promise to raise children of the marriage as Catholic, including baptism and bringing them to the sacraments, to the best of his ability.
the non-Catholic party is required to make no promises, nor to sign anything, other than of course the requirements for a valid marriage binding on everyone–freedom to marry and proper intent, promise of fidelity etc.

the non-Catholic party must be informed of the obligations binding on their Catholic partner, and must comply with the marriage preparation and other guidelines as well.
 
Annie is correct regarding the promises the Catholic makes, and that the non-Catholic doesn’t make any promises.

HOWEVER, during the process of applying for permission to marry a non-Catholic there is investigation into whether the Catholic will be able to practice their faith freely. See below, the canons:

Can. 1125 The local ordinary can grant a permission of this kind if there is a just and reasonable cause. He is not to grant it unless the following conditions have been fulfilled:

1/ the Catholic party is to declare that he or she is prepared to remove dangers of defecting from the faith and is to make a sincere promise to do all in his or her power so that all offspring are baptized and brought up in the Catholic Church;

2/ the other party is to be informed at an appropriate time about the promises which the Catholic party is to make, in such a way that it is certain that he or she is truly aware of the promise and obligation of the Catholic party;

3/ both parties are to be instructed about the purposes and essential properties of marriage which neither of the contracting parties is to exclude.

So, in essence, there would need to be assurance that the Catholic would not be interfered with even though they don’t sign anything.
 
What if the “non-Catholic” was baptized Catholic as an infant, but has walked away from the faith due to alleged poor catechesis, and a lack of devout Catholic friends growing up, due to alleged poor catechesis of them, and worldly influences? What if that person now outright rejects God? What is the rule if a devout Catholic wants to marry that person? Is there any rule, or is that person still considered, “Catholic” by virtue of infant Baptism, therefore requiring no new rule?
 
Starwynd said:
I’m wondering if this is true. When a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, is the non-Catholic required to sign a document that says that the non-Catholic must agree to not interfere in any way shape or form with the Catholic’s faith? Such as asking to not go to church?
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This used to be the case before Vatican II, but Pope Paul VI eased this requirement out of respect for the religious liberty of the non-Catholic party.
Starwynd said:
And what are the rules for a Catholic to marry a non Catholic?
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Other posters have described the new rules above. However, from other threads it appears that there are a few priests who harken to the days before Vatican II, and still require promises of the non-Catholic party.
 
HappyPerson said:
What if that person now outright rejects God? Is there any rule, or is that person still considered, “Catholic” by virtue of infant Baptism, therefore requiring no new rule?
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This question has been puzzling me lately as well. Are previously-baptized Catholics who reject the faith lumped into the “non-Catholic” category? In that case the couple would be able to proceed with the marriage as long as they received dispensation for their disparity of worship. Or is it more complicated than that? :confused:
 
I am curious about this as well. My husband was baptized and raised Catholic but stopped goinng in his teens and never went back. Does this mean he is no longer a Catholic?
 
It depends on whether they have formally defected from the faith. To do that one has to send a letter to one’s Ordinary and the Ordinary has to file the paperwork to get it done. Not likely in most cases except for the most bitter and grieved ex-Catholics.
 
i think it’s at this point you may have to ask yourself, what’s even fruitful about my relationship with a person who rejects God?
not forgetting our main purpose in life, to know, love, and serve God,

i think you would benefit from reading what true friendship is…
columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/chastity.html#ch1

the first chapter explains enough, but if you read the whole thing, you will understand much more.

not to say we should only befriend other religious, but more so that we should learn how to be a true friend to someone who is spiritually in need of help, whether we help by prayers, or by direct action, whatever best suits the situation…
 
a_cermak said:
It depends on whether they have formally defected from the faith.
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Suppose the person has not defected. Are they still considered Catholics by the church or is the procedure for marriage the same as that for marriage to a non-Catholic?
 
ahannah said:
Suppose the person has not defected. Are they still considered Catholics by the church or is the procedure for marriage the same as that for marriage to a non-Catholic?
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If they have not formally defected (which, as has been pointed out, requires specific steps) then they are Catholics and they are subject to the marriage laws of the Catholic Church.
 
EmeraldWings said:
i think it’s at this point you may have to ask yourself, what’s even fruitful about my relationship with a person who rejects God?
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I have been asking myself this question a lot. I know I still have a lot to figure out. I have been praying about this a lot to try and find the answers. While I can not yet judge if my current relationship is fruitful, I do believe it is possible to have a fruitful relationship with a non-Christian. I believe as long as the relationship does not weaken one’s relationship with God or the person’s sense of morality, than the relationship can bear fruit. Perhaps it could be God’s plan to touch the life of the non-Christian through that person’s spouse. (Not to imply that I am that person.) God works in mysterious ways, and if he did not want Catholics to marry non-Christians then I think He would have prohibited it. (There aren’t any rules I don’t know about, I hope…) I want to have a fruitful relationship, and I have every intention of leaving any relationship that I discover to be to the contrary. That said, I thank you very much for the tip about the book, and I will certainly read the website. If you have any other thoughts on this topic that might help me I would be glad to hear them. 🙂
 
a_cermak said:
It depends on whether they have formally defected from the faith. To do that one has to send a letter to one’s Ordinary and the Ordinary has to file the paperwork to get it done. Not likely in most cases except for the most bitter and grieved ex-Catholics.
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Some Catholics formally defect in Germany to avoid paying the Church Tax which is levied on income.

One such defection crossed my desk a few years ago, sent to us to enter into the baptismal records – we couldn’t identify the person, nobody had ever heard of him.
 
To anyone looking for answers about this topic, a friend of mine found this website from the United States Conference About Catholic Bishops. It answered a lot of questions I had. Hopefully it will help other people looking for these answers as well…

usccb.org/laity/marriage/marriagefaqs.shtml

God Bless 🙂
 
If it could be shown that a non-Catholic partner never intended to let their Catholic spouse continue to practice their Faith without interference, would that be grounds for a decree of nullity?
 
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