Catholic laity & performing a wedding

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Can Catholic Laity perform a civil wedding between a Catholic and non-Christian?
 
A Catholic lay person can perform a civil ceremony if that is part of the lay person’s appointed civil duties (i.e., a lay Catholic Justice of the Peace, etc.) or whatever other position a particular state’s law may allow it to happen. HOWEVER, a Catholic bride or groom may NOT be permitted a civil ceremony. So the answer to your question is no - not because of the person officiating but because the Catholic party of the wedding is violating Church law.
 
Depends. Does the Catholic groom or bride have a dispensation? If not, then the Catholic Justice of the Peace is an accomplice to the Catholic bride or groom’s sin and is sinning himself. Of course, I’m not sure if the JP is always aware of the religious affiliation of those seeking civil marriage. If he is unaware, then he is not an accomplice. I know if they don’t ask for that information, he has no right to ask for it because it violates one’s privacy.
 
Depends. Does the Catholic groom or bride have a dispensation? If not, then the Catholic Justice of the Peace is an accomplice to the Catholic bride or groom’s sin and is sinning himself. Of course, I’m not sure if the JP is always aware of the religious affiliation of those seeking civil marriage. If he is unaware, then he is not an accomplice. I know if they don’t ask for that information, he has no right to ask for it because it violates one’s privacy.
If the JP does find out that the couple is Catholic and refuses to marry them, then he will likely be fired from his job. That would effectively exclude any Catholic from taking the job of JP.
 
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