With the previous authorisation of the local Ordinary, and if invited to do so, a Catholic priest or deacon may attend or participate in some way in the celebration of mixed marriages, in situations where the dispensation from canonical form has been granted. In these cases, there may be only one ceremony in which the presiding person receives the marriage vows. At the invitation of this celebrant, the Catholic priest or deacon may offer other appropriate prayers, read from the Scriptures, give a brief exhortation and bless the couple.
Yes, a Catholic priest may offer a blessing at a wedding of a Catholic and a non-Catholic in a non-Catholic religious setting. However the couple needs to have been dispensed from canonical form and the priest needs the bishop’s permission. The priest is not allowed to “officiate” in the sense of being the presider of the liturgy nor can he receive the vows.
DISCLAIMER: Catholic Answers has turned over the archive to Catholic-Questions.org and no longer owns, manages, or moderates the forums. For additional apologetics resources please visit www.catholic.com.
