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ChristIsTheWay
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My sister is planning to get married. She and her fiance want to know if one or both the best man and maid of honor must be Catholic in order to get married in the Church. Thank you.
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tee_eff_em
Guest
There is no requirement that the best man, maid of honor, nor any other lay witness to a marriage be Catholic.
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Thomas63116
Guest
My understanding is that “best man” and “maid of honor” are really a cultural custom which is not recognized in church law Therefore, there is no requirement that the person fulfilling those roles must be Catholic.
Church law does require that there be two “official” witnesses to the marriage (in addition to the priest/deacon) who sign as witnesses in the parish record. Some dioceses and/or parishes may require at least one of these witnesses to be Catholic. Traditionally, the “best man” and “maid of honor” have also been the two “official” witnesses. But there is no reason that would have to be the case.
That’s how I understand it, but I’m sure if I have this wrong someone will correct me.
Church law does require that there be two “official” witnesses to the marriage (in addition to the priest/deacon) who sign as witnesses in the parish record. Some dioceses and/or parishes may require at least one of these witnesses to be Catholic. Traditionally, the “best man” and “maid of honor” have also been the two “official” witnesses. But there is no reason that would have to be the case.
That’s how I understand it, but I’m sure if I have this wrong someone will correct me.
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forever_always
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I don’t think it is mandatory, but it is more favorable if they are both catholic. But like Thomas63116 said, it’s a cultural custom.
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tee_eff_em
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Nat2
Guest
Probably in the Church’s.
I’m going to be the maid-of-honor for my sister this year and I’ve been thinking about what my role is in her wedding and future life. I think that the maid-of-honor and/or best man are the special witness of the wedding and also have a special duty to pray for them in their marriage commitment. If it is a Catholic wedding, they don’t have to be Catholic, but it probably less complicated for them to be Catholic….but my sister’s best man is not going to be catholic, but he has none-the-less supported my sister’s fiancé in his road to God, and I believe that he will pray just as fervently as I will.
So I don’t think they need to be catholic, but you don’t what to have someone that’s anti-Catholic either.
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forever_always
Guest
The church i suppose. Maybe favorable was the wrong word to use? Looking up information for my own wedding, I have found websites that say, “The Catholic Church prefers that both the best man and the maid of honor be Catholic (although only one must be).” but then i find other sites that say it isn’t required.
I would ask the priest, or the church they are getting married at for more specifics. It seems to change from parish to parish.
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Phemie
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Neither the Rite nor Canon Law say anything about the witnesses except that there must be two. In my home community, for decades those two witnesses were the fathers of the bride and groom (or a male relative if the dads were unavailable). It only started to change after television came along and we saw more ‘Hollywood weddings’.
My maid-of-honour and DH’s best man were both non-Catholic. The priest never even asked anything about them except their names.
My maid-of-honour and DH’s best man were both non-Catholic. The priest never even asked anything about them except their names.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
No, neither of them are required to be Catholic.
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tee_eff_em
Guest
You can find websites that say lots of things. But if you can find Canon Law (or other direction of the Church) beyond this, it will be news to me.
[NB The lack of any further qualification for the witnesses]
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