Can a Greek Orthodox marry in a Roman Catholic Church?

[CAROLOFTHEBELLS]

Does that include a marriage that was civil only? As I previously stated, I do not know if the man was married civily or in a Greek Orthodox (or other) church. Is a GO actually considered to be married if he only had a civil ceremony?

Additional question, if the ex-wife has re-married and no children where produced during the marriage, does that nullify the marriage or make it easier to nullify? Could be that she made the decision for divorce, I don’t know. I only know he has a great deal of respect for this woman (who, by the way, currently has cancer).

I have learned from Catholic Answers magazine, which I subscribed to in the past and received in the mail, that a civil marriage is not considered valid in the RC church. Therefore, there is no special dispensation required to marry someone who is legally divorced yet never actually married in the eyes of the Church. Perhaps I read wrong? No need for you to check, I want to do further research on my own, since there are some conflicting answers here. But I thank you all for answering my questions.

I’m sure your answers will apply to others who might have the same question, but just to clarify and repeat what I said previously, children are not a possiblity. Each of us is in our early 50’s. He doesnt want children at this stage and I can’t have them nor am I considering adopting. The most I want to share is a puppy! I’ve never been married and I missed the boat on having children.

Additionally, on his side, there is very little family. So, more than likely no family pressure for a GO ceremony. (Maybe some cousins, not sure.) He is an only child and his parents are deceased. My family doesn’t care if I don’t marry in the RC church, but I do and I feel it is also important to the memory of my father. They would be pretty shocked if I was married outside of the Catholic Church because they know how much that would mean to me. I think, at the most, they would be sad for me.

This man put on his eHarmony profile (in the appropriate section, which is shown as you get to know each other) that a must have in a relationship is someone who respects and understands his religion. So, my concern was how far does this carry. Perhaps he is not as attached to the GO church as I am to the RC church, and since he has been to the Vatican twice and seen the Pope I just imagined he would be okay marrying in the RC church. This would, of course, need to be discussed up front. Perhaps he would consider converting to RC. I don’t know.

Anyway, thanks for your answers. I’m going to be taking a break from Catholic Answers Forums, but I will keep an eye on this thread.

 

[Formosus]

Unless he is willing to give up his communion with the Greek Orthodox Church, then you are going to have to marry in his Church. The Roman church gives dispensations for Catholics marrying Orthodox in this situation. I doubt Orthodox recognize a civil marriage since (as stated above by another) in Byzantine theology the Marriage is conferred by the priest and not by the couple. Catholics (to my knowledge) do recognize civil marriages among **non catholics **as valid so long as it used the proper form. He will have to have his the Roman marriage tribunal examine his case to see if he is married or not.

 

[1ke]

Does that include a marriage that was civil only? As I previously stated, I do not know if the man was married civily or in a Greek Orthodox (or other) church. Is a GO actually considered to be married if he only had a civil ceremony?

It would be important to know if he was married in the Orthodox Church or not. If he married outside his Church and did not have it subsequently validated then he has a “lack of form” in the Orthodox Church. This would be taken into account in the Catholic marriage tribunal.

Look, until he actually submits ALL the details this is mere speculation based on “what if”.

Additional question, if the ex-wife has re-married and no children where produced during the marriage, does that nullify the marriage or make it easier to nullify?

No. None of that has any bearing on the validity of the marriage between the man in question and this woman.

Sounds to me like you don’t really know what nullity is in the Catholic Church. I suggest you get the book Annulment: The Wedding That Was, by Michael Smith Foster. It will help you understand what nullity is and isn’t.

I have learned from Catholic Answers magazine, which I subscribed to in the past and received in the mail, that a civil marriage is not considered valid in the RC church. Therefore, there is no special dispensation required to marry someone who is legally divorced yet never actually married in the eyes of the Church. Perhaps I read wrong?

You are indeed wrong.

Civil marriage is invalid for a CATHOLIC, who has canon law requirements as to where he is married and by whom.

Non-Catholics are not bound by this form and therefore if two non-Catholics (and non-Orthodox) marry in a civil ceremony it is 100% valid until shown otherwise for some cause of nullity (impediment). Such a person who divorces and seeks to marry a Catholic would have to go before the Tribunal with a case for nullity-- which may or may not be granted.

There is no such thing as a “special dispensation” to marry a person who has been previously married in a civil ceremony.

Now, if one or both were unbaptized, the Pauline/Petrine privileges may apply-- and that is not a decree of nullity but something else entirely (get the book I recommended).

No need for you to check, I want to do further research on my own, since there are some conflicting answers here. But I thank you all for answering my questions.

Get the book, it will help you a lot.

Additionally, on his side, there is very little family. So, more than likely no family pressure for a GO ceremony. (Maybe some cousins, not sure.) He is an only child and his parents are deceased. My family doesn’t care if I don’t marry in the RC church, but I do and I feel it is also important to the memory of my father. They would be pretty shocked if I was married outside of the Catholic Church because they know how much that would mean to me. I think, at the most, they would be sad for me.

This man put on his eHarmony profile (in the appropriate section, which is shown as you get to know each other) that a must have in a relationship is someone who respects and understands his religion. So, my concern was how far does this carry. Perhaps he is not as attached to the GO church as I am to the RC church, and since he has been to the Vatican twice and seen the Pope I just imagined he would be okay marrying in the RC church. This would, of course, need to be discussed up front. Perhaps he would consider converting to RC. I don’t know.

Anyway, thanks for your answers. I’m going to be taking a break from Catholic Answers Forums, but I will keep an eye on this thread.

If he remains Orthodox, he would have to marry in the Orthodox Church for it to be valid.

As has already been pointed out, you could receive permission to be married in the Orthodox Church and it would be 100% valid in the Catholic Church.

Perhaps he would consider converting, that is for the two of you to discuss.

I wish you well and hope it works out for you.