Can a person get married if he is unconscious?

[Arthanius]

Dear Friends

i am asking for help on understanding the churches teaching on a marriage that the groom was unconscious and later pronounced brian dead on his hospital bed. My question is, does the church permit a marriage to be celebrated or even consider it to be valid.

Second question - can the marriage be valid even if the person, being unconscious, made known his full consent to be married? Like that of Baptism?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

No to both. To attempt marriage with an unconscious person will certainly be invalid. A person must be conscious to pronounce the vows of marriage–or at least give assent to the vows if he or she is unable to speak. Having the intention before becoming unconscious cannot take the place of being present to give assent.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.