Catholic/non-catholic, Christian marriage procedure

[D3an]

Hi all,
Not sure I placed this thread in right place if not, my apologize…

My fiancé is catholic and we’re about to get married as per catholic tradition, in the process I’ve been faced with a couple of questions I hope I can get an answer of here.

1. just called the intended church to arrange a meeting with the priest, I told the lady I spoke with I am not a catholic but Christian and baptized and that shouldn’t be any problem?
   Her response were that, that’s for the priest to decide while we’re having the meeting.
   How Is that possible? Is it up to a local priest to decide whether me being non-catholic being eligible for marriage or not? Isnt that something global - like a yes no question?
2. she mentioned my baptism certificate need to be current not older then 6 months?
   What does that mean?
3. what kind of questions may appear on the interview with the priest?

Thanks in advance.

 

[agapewolf]

1. The priest has to meet you and have a good idea that the Catholic will not lose their faith, also that you understand that the Catholic will be raising the children Catholic. A mixed marriage needs permission from the Bishop.
2. In the Catholic church, the baptismal certificate keeps record of all sacraments received, including marriage. THe reason its asked for within 6 months is to ensure that there hasn’t been any previous marriages. You were probably getting a basic run down from the receptionist, and not particular to your case.

 

[D3an]

Thanks appreciate your reply,

1)Ok I understand and most willing to raise my future kids catholic and my faith is actually catholic I am not practicing it completely tho due to external and practical issues.

1. but for a non-catholic my christian baptism certificate will not include that kind of information, should I prepare some other documents proving I’ve never been married?

 

[agapewolf]

Thanks appreciate your reply,

1)Ok I understand and most willing to raise my future kids catholic and my faith is actually catholic I am not practicing it completely tho due to external and practical issues.

1. but for a non-catholic my christian baptism certificate will not include that kind of information, should I prepare some other documents proving I’ve never been married?

Just meet the priest and let him guide you. He’ll let you know what you’ll need.

 

[D3an]

Just meet the priest and let him guide you. He’ll let you know what you’ll need.

That’s my intention but I want to prepared since I have about 24hrs of traveling to meet the priest and any required documents will be hard for me to provide to the priest unless I am doing it in advance.

 

[cradlecatholic5]

D3an,

My husband isn’t Catholic and his baptisim “counted” when we married. And we wonder why people are leaving our Church … hmmm…

D3an, let the priest guide you. It’s a happy occassion.

My prayers for your trip and your meeting.

 

[Colorad007]

It won’t be an interrogation, so I wouldn’t worry too much. My wife is not Catholic, and the whole process was utterly painless–for her and for me. The priest meets with a couple beforehand whether you are Catholic or non-Catholic. Because a mixed marriage requires certain things that a Catholic marriage does not, there are few “i’s” to dot, but it’s nothing to worry about.

Your baptismal certificate is very important. It’s what shows that you have received Christian baptism, which matters a great deal in this and in all of life.

Don’t worry about it. Just be honest and forthright throughout the whole process and it will go well.

 

[TomCruiise]

See, this is why I don’t understand Catholicism as a whole.

Let me point out to what I see wrong with this picture:
Who the heck are they to tell you when/where/how you can be married? You obviously have already acquired her father/family’s approval for your marriage, but yet these people need a holy man to approve YOUR marriage? “Nope, sorry son, no can do. Seems you’re not quite Catholic enough to marry this fine lady.” <----- Is this not wrong to anyone else? Honestly?

The way Catholicism goes you’d think it was a high end country club.

 

[prodigalson2011]

See, this is why I don’t understand Catholicism as a whole.

Let me point out to what I see wrong with this picture:
Who the heck are they to tell you when/where/how you can be married? You obviously have already acquired her father/family’s approval for your marriage, but yet these people need a holy man to approve YOUR marriage? “Nope, sorry son, no can do. Seems you’re not quite Catholic enough to marry this fine lady.” <----- Is this not wrong to anyone else? Honestly?

The way Catholicism goes you’d think it was a high end country club.

You don’t understand Catholicism because you don’t try to. A priest must approve of a SACRAMENTAL marriage for the precise reason that, within the Catholic Church, marriage is just that. A sacrament. The word sacrament comes from a latin phrase meaning, “sacred thing.” It is, in the view of the Church, an indissoluble bond between two people that can never be broken.

Your caricature of the discernment process is laughable. It has nothing to do with being Catholic enough. The priest makes sure that both parties fully understand the gravity of their commitment in light of the faith they profess. That the love bond of marriage is not just about “feelings,” but an act of the will that promises, even if those lovey-dovey Hollywood-romance emotions fade, to be fully committed and faithful to the other for the rest of their lives, and that, barring some very extreme circumstances, the marriage cannot be undone in the eyes of God.

Unlike the secular world, the Church still takes marriage very seriously.

 

[ValPal]

I told the lady I spoke with I am not a catholic but Christian and baptized and that shouldn’t be any problem?

my faith is actually catholic I am not practicing it completely tho due to external and practical issues.

I’m confused. You state that you are not Catholic, then state your faith is actually Catholic.

If you were baptized in a Catholic Church, the Catholic Church considers you Catholic. Period. You could subsequently practice Buddhism, Hinduism, or anything else, but you are still considered Catholic.

This point is very important when getting married. If you were baptized Catholic, you are required to follow Catholic form, regardless of who you marry. If you were not baptized Catholic and you married a Catholic, one or more dispensations would be required depending on the circumstances.

If you are a non-practicing (baptized) Catholic, that would likely created issues that has to be addressed by the priest.

 

[agapewolf]

D3an,

My husband isn’t Catholic and his baptisim “counted” when we married. And we wonder why people are leaving our Church … hmmm…

.

What are you talking about people leaving the church? Where did this come from?

 

[agapewolf]

I’m confused. You state that you are not Catholic, then state your faith is actually Catholic.

If you were baptized in a Catholic Church, the Catholic Church considers you Catholic. Period. You could subsequently practice Buddhism, Hinduism, or anything else, but you are still considered Catholic.

This point is very important when getting married. If you were baptized Catholic, you are required to follow Catholic form, regardless of who you marry. If you were not baptized Catholic and you married a Catholic, one or more dispensations would be required depending on the circumstances.

If you are a non-practicing (baptized) Catholic, that would likely created issues that has to be addressed by the priest.

I think what he meant was that he wasn’t baptized catholic, but he believes in the Catholic faith.

 

[D3an]

I think what he meant was that he wasn’t baptized catholic, but he believes in the Catholic faith.

what he said… sorry about the confusion,

my fiance is catholic by tradition and faith, i am baptized christian by tradition not faith, i have myself search for answers and i find them in the catholic faith.

i live in one of the most secularized country in the world, i dont know anyone that believe in God and has never done (except my fiance now) although I’ve found God and i believe in him and pray several times a day i pray the rosary pretty often and so forth, but i dont go to church simply because i dont know any catholic church as where i live,

as of right now i try to have a personal connection with God and live as good and faithful as i can based by my knowledge, i am looking forward to one day be part of the catholic church attend church every sunday and extend my knowledge and so forth,

hope that clarifies,