Can non-Catholics participate in a wedding?

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My sister is getting married and she asked me if a non-Catholic can participate in the wedding, like carry the gifts up. I told her that only a Catholic can participate explicately in the Mass. Can you give me any support for this with official statements by bishops or the pope or something?
 
I do not know the current rules (which are probably routinely violated anyway), but there is a long tradition going way back into the twentiethc century, long before Vatican II and santioned by as strict a pope as Pius XII, of allowing some latitude as a matter of charity in the celebration of weddings and funerals. I’m sure others can give us the details.
 
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jimmy:
My sister is getting married and she asked me if a non-Catholic can participate in the wedding, like carry the gifts up. I told her that only a Catholic can participate explicately in the Mass. Can you give me any support for this with official statements by bishops or the pope or something?
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Non-Catholics can participate in the mass. My daughter had a Catholic wedding and she had several of her friends due scripture readings, and several in her wedding party were not Catholic. Best bet is to ask the priest.
 
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mikew262:
Non-Catholics can participate in the mass. My daughter had a Catholic wedding and she had several of her friends due scripture readings, and several in her wedding party were not Catholic. Best bet is to ask the priest.
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I am refering to them participating in the mass, like bringing up the gifts or reading the readings or something like that. Not being part of the wedding party.
 
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jimmy:
My sister is getting married and she asked me if a non-Catholic can participate in the wedding, like carry the gifts up. I told her that only a Catholic can participate explicately in the Mass. Can you give me any support for this with official statements by bishops or the pope or something?
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She can participate on the wedding and Mass prayers as any Baptized Christian can. The Gifts are symbolic of the Community and technically even though she is Baptized and in some way a member of the Mystical Body of Christ she is not visibly a member of that parish community. Non-Catholics cannot participate in Holy Communion or read any of the readings either. It is suggested that in the case of a Catholic and Non-Catholic wedding that the Sacraemnt of Marriage take place outside of Mass, just because of these reasons. It makes the Non-Catholics feel out of place. Sometimes the priest feel obligated to bend the rules which he should not do.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
Non-Catholic cannot read any of the readings either.
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I’m not sure this is correct. As I mentioned, at my daughter’s Catholic wedding, a couple of her friends did some scripture readings, and I don’t believe they were Catholic. However, this was 7yrs ago, so my memory could be failing me.
 
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mikew262:
I’m not sure this is correct. As I mentioned, at my daughter’s Catholic wedding, a couple of her friends did some scripture readings, and I don’t believe they were Catholic. However, this was 7yrs ago, so my memory could be failing me.
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Well the rules come from the additional documents produced after Vatican II on the Liturgy. They specify what is and what is not a proper role for a non-Catholic to take in a Catholic liturgy and for a Catholic to take at a non-Catholic liturgy or service.
 
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mikew262:
I’m not sure this is correct. As I mentioned, at my daughter’s Catholic wedding, a couple of her friends did some scripture readings, and I don’t believe they were Catholic. However, this was 7yrs ago, so my memory could be failing me.
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Possibly was it done on this basis?

Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism, 1993, n. 133. "The reading of Scripture during a Eucharistic celebration in the Catholic Church is to be done by members of that Church. On exceptional occasions and for a just cause, the Bishop of the diocese may permit a member of another Church or ecclesial Community to take on the task of reader. " (Not the homily however.)

The interpretation would also be made, if permission can be given at Mass, it can be given at a wedding outside of Mass.
 
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cameron_lansing:
Possibly was it done on this basis?

Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism, 1993, n. 133. "The reading of Scripture during a Eucharistic celebration in the Catholic Church is to be done by members of that Church. On exceptional occasions and for a just cause, the Bishop of the diocese may permit a member of another Church or ecclesial Community to take on the task of reader. " (Not the homily however.)

The interpretation would also be made, if permission can be given at Mass, it can be given at a wedding outside of Mass.
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I don’t think the Bishop was involved, unless our priest asked permission on his own.
 
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