Can I have a Catholic marriage non-denominational chapel?

[craig34478]

My fiance and I are planning on getting married in Scotland. Our reception is at an old estate house in the country, and my fiance is insisting that we get married in the non-denominational chapel that is on the estate. Will a catholic priest perform a catholic wedding ceremony there?

 

[LilyM]

Firstly you have to get permission from the bishop of the diocese you reside in before you can marry anywhere outside of your home diocese. Of course if one of you lives there then that WILL be your home diocese and no problems.

Secondly - you’d also need to get special permission from the bishop (same bishop as for marrying in Scotland in the first place) to marry anywhere outside of a Catholic Church. While I’ve heard of cases of permission being granted, I’ve heard far more often of people being knocked back.

Your local priest is the person who’ll help you with the paperwork for both of those.

So make sure to look into the local Catholic churches there just in case. Or else have a quiet no-frills ceremony in a Catholic church here before you go over - that way you can invite the people who can’t travel over there :yup:

 

[rochejaune]

We did it. We got married at the Yellowstone Mammoth Chapel, by my husband’s brother who is a priest. Our parish priest did all of the preparing, and we had to get permission from him and from the priest from the county that Yellowstone is in. We had no trouble. Good luck.

 

[LilyM]

We did it. We got married at the Yellowstone Mammoth Chapel, by my husband’s brother who is a priest. Our parish priest did all of the preparing, and we had to get permission from him and from the priest from the county that Yellowstone is in. We had no trouble. Good luck.

You mean from the bishops, I think. I’ve never heard of a priest having the authority to grant permission for such things himself, as far as I know they’d always have to ask their bishop for it. And being that the priest is your husband’s brother (was it in his diocese?) that might have been a factor in your favour.

 

[craig34478]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I will have a chat with my local priest and see how I go. Its a tough issue for my fiance because many alot of her family are irish protestants who refuse to enter a catholic church.

 

[Phemie]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I will have a chat with my local priest and see how I go. Its a tough issue for my fiance because many alot of her family are irish protestants who refuse to enter a catholic church.

That can actually work in your favour, since one of the reasons for granting a dispensation from form (what you’re asking for by asking to marry in a non-denominational chapel) is family harmony.

 

[Dicerning]

My fiance and I are planning on getting married in Scotland. Our reception is at an old estate house in the country, and my fiance is insisting that we get married in the non-denominational chapel that is on the estate. Will a catholic priest perform a catholic wedding ceremony there?

I find it a sad fact that nowadays the reception seems to trump the actual Marriage liturgy. In this case it seems as though priorities are backwards. Instead of the location of the reception being decided by the location of the church it is the other way around.

Sigh

 

[1ke]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I will have a chat with my local priest and see how I go. Its a tough issue for my fiance because many alot of her family are irish protestants who refuse to enter a catholic church.

Is your fiance a Catholic?

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I will have a chat with my local priest and see how I go. Its a tough issue for my fiance because many alot of her family are irish protestants who refuse to enter a catholic church.

Trying to avoid something like this?

 

[Seatuck]

Is your fiance a Catholic?

That’s my question. I think there is something about when it is two Catholics it must be in a Catholic church but I could be wrong as I don’t have a reference and we are talking about a different country than the US a different Diocese etc.

It’s probably up to the Bishop of that area.

 

[benedictgal]

Does the OP live in the United States or is he from the UK? Not that it would necessarily matter, but the permits are still required in order to marry in a place other than a Catholic Church. The bishop where the wedding will take place would need to grant the dispensation.

Something else that the groom needs to consider. Is the bride Catholic? If this is going to be a mixed marriage, then there shouldn’t be a Nuptial Mass. Look at what the Holy Father notes in Sacramentum Caritatis:

In this regard, I would like to call attention to a pastoral problem frequently encountered nowadays. I am referring to the fact that on certain occasions – for example, wedding Masses, funerals and the like – in addition to practicing Catholics there may be others present who have long since ceased to attend Mass or are living in a situation which does not permit them to receive the sacraments. At other times members of other Christian confessions and even other religions may be present. Similar situations can occur in churches that are frequently visited, especially in tourist areas. In these cases, there is a need to find a brief and clear way to remind those present of the meaning of sacramental communion and the conditions required for its reception. Wherever circumstances make it impossible to ensure that the meaning of the Eucharist is duly appreciated, the appropriateness of replacing the celebration of the Mass with a celebration of the word of God should be considered. (153)

In this case, if the bride isn’t Catholic and if her family isn’t too keen on the Church, this would be the best route to take.

 

[craig34478]

Hi guys,

Just to answer a few of your questions, my fiance is a member of the Church of Scotland, and I am a catholic. She is Scottish, and I am Australian, and we plan on marrying in Scotland so that her family can be present. I’m strongly pushing for a catholic wedding, however I understand that a nuptial mass isn’t appropriate in this case.

The biggest issue is that her father’s family are all irish protestants that have some BIG prejudices towards catholics for obvious reasons. Its a sad and tragic fact that the disharmony in northern island actually creates so much hatred that family members won’t even visit a different church to celebrate a loved ones wedding, but that’s how it is. The idea of having a catholic ceremony in a small chapel would solve alot of problems, but it doesn’t look like it can happen. So I either have to compromise and have a non-catholic wedding, or cause a massive family drama.

 

[LilyM]

Hi guys,

Just to answer a few of your questions, my fiance is a member of the Church of Scotland, and I am a catholic. She is Scottish, and I am Australian, and we plan on marrying in Scotland so that her family can be present. I’m strongly pushing for a catholic wedding, however I understand that a nuptial mass isn’t appropriate in this case.

The biggest issue is that her father’s family are all irish protestants that have some BIG prejudices towards catholics for obvious reasons. Its a sad and tragic fact that the disharmony in northern island actually creates so much hatred that family members won’t even visit a different church to celebrate a loved ones wedding, but that’s how it is. The idea of having a catholic ceremony in a small chapel would solve alot of problems, but it doesn’t look like it can happen. So I either have to compromise and have a non-catholic wedding, or cause a massive family drama.

I don’t think just having a non-Catholic wedding is an option for you, as a Catholic. Do apply for permission, you might get lucky.

If you don’t get it then you may need to have a quick low-key Catholic ceremony somewhere, just you two, the priest and a witness after Mass one day. And then renew the vows in the non-Catholic chapel as you’ve planned. That should be do-able as a compromise, all your obligations as a Catholic would be met and no-one need be offended or stay away.

 

[Phemie]

Since she is not Catholic, why don’t you apply for a dispensation to marry in the Church of Scotland? The celebration in that Church would most likely be very close to that in the Catholic Church, since you can’t have a Mass in any case.

 

[1ke]

Hi guys,

Just to answer a few of your questions, my fiance is a member of the Church of Scotland, and I am a catholic. She is Scottish, and I am Australian, and we plan on marrying in Scotland so that her family can be present. I’m strongly pushing for a catholic wedding, however I understand that a nuptial mass isn’t appropriate in this case.

The biggest issue is that her father’s family are all irish protestants that have some BIG prejudices towards catholics for obvious reasons. Its a sad and tragic fact that the disharmony in northern island actually creates so much hatred that family members won’t even visit a different church to celebrate a loved ones wedding, but that’s how it is. The idea of having a catholic ceremony in a small chapel would solve alot of problems, but it doesn’t look like it can happen. So I either have to compromise and have a non-catholic wedding, or cause a massive family drama.

If you are Catholic and she is not, you can be dispensed from the Catholic form and can be married in her church.

It is VERY unlikely you will receive permission from your Bishop to have a Catholic marriage in a non-Catholic chapel.

Either way, the things you are contemplating require permission from your Bishop, plus you need permission to marry a non-Catholic and permission to get married outside your home diocese, so you need to bring all of this to your parish preist ASAP and begin the Catholic marriage preparation process AND all the various paperwork you will need to complete.

Talk to your priest and let him guide you.

 

[puzzleannie]

My fiance and I are planning on getting married in Scotland. Our reception is at an old estate house in the country, and my fiance is insisting that we get married in the non-denominational chapel that is on the estate. Will a catholic priest perform a catholic wedding ceremony there?

not likely, and not without permission of the bishop, the priest performing the ceremony, and a compelling, overriding reason. barely possible, but don’t count on it. the fact that many or most of the in-laws refuse to attend in a Catholic church could very well constitute a compelling reason. For those who have married in other venues, it is most likely the priest obtained the necessary permissions without your having to take any action. Talk to the priest who is overseeing your marriage preparation, he will help you with such things.