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kwalrath
Guest
My son was asked to be a “Catholic Witness” for his close non-catholic friend marrying a catholic girl. What is the responsibility of the person agreeing to this role in the marriage preparation?
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FrDavid96
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The ceremony itself is Catholic, right? You didn’t say as much, but it seems that way.My son was asked to be a “Catholic Witness” for his close non-catholic friend marrying a catholic girl. What is the responsibility of the person agreeing to this role in the marriage preparation?
A witness means just that: he will be present to “officially” view the ceremony, so that if there is ever any question as to whether or not the marriage took place, he can attest to the fact that it did. It means that his name will be in the marriage record as an “official witness.”
He doesn’t need to do anything in particular, other than be present and pay attention. Most witnesses have nothing to do with the marriage preparation.
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puzzleannie
Guest
the same as for any witness to a marriage, to be one of those who knows the couple and can attest, to the best of his knowledge, that they are ready and properly disposed to enter into a valid marriage. I assume the way the questions was phrased that the couple is following Catholic form for marriage and being prepared through the Catholic party’s parish. If the Catholic is not doing this, of course no Catholic can witness the marriage.My son was asked to be a “Catholic Witness” for his close non-catholic friend marrying a catholic girl. What is the responsibility of the person agreeing to this role in the marriage preparation?
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1ke
Guest
There is no such thing as a specifically “Catholic witness” to a marriage. The Church requires a priest and two witnesses per Canonn Law in the Catholic form of marriage (exceptions to this are noted in Canon Law).My son was asked to be a “Catholic Witness” for his close non-catholic friend marrying a catholic girl. What is the responsibility of the person agreeing to this role in the marriage preparation?
In the case where the Catholic receives permission to be married outside Catholic form, it is still two witnesses who typically sign the marriage license. Typically this is the best man and maid/matron of honor but there is no legal or Church requirement that it be so. There is no requirement that either witness is Catholic. There are procedures for recording the marriage when a nonCatholic officiates.
But again, there is not specific duty of a Catholic witness.
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centurionguard
Guest
Technically there is only one witness needed in a manner of speaking. Its the officiating priest who solemnizes the ceremony and is required to sign the Marriage Documents (both copies of the Marriage Certificate and the State/Provincial License of Marriage.There is no such thing as a specifically “Catholic witness” to a marriage. The Church requires a priest and two witnesses per Canonn Law in the Catholic form of marriage (exceptions to this are noted in Canon Law).
In the case where the Catholic receives permission to be married outside Catholic form, it is still two witnesses who typically sign the marriage license. Typically this is the best man and maid/matron of honor but there is no legal or Church requirement that it be so. There is no requirement that either witness is Catholic. There are procedures for recording the marriage when a nonCatholic officiates.
But again, there is not specific duty of a Catholic witness.
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FrDavid96
Guest
Can. 1108 §1. Only those marriages are valid which are contracted before the local ordinary, pastor, or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them, who assist, and before two witnesses according to the rules expressed in the following canons and without prejudice to the exceptions mentioned in cann. ⇒ 144, ⇒ 1112, §1, ⇒ 1116, and ⇒ 1127, §§1-2.Technically there is only one witness needed in a manner of speaking. Its the officiating priest who solemnizes the ceremony and is required to sign the Marriage Documents (both copies of the Marriage Certificate and the State/Provincial License of Marriage.
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
Are you talking about being a witness to the marriage – like the best man and maid of honor? Or are you talking about witnessing the form they need before they can be married.
I don’t know the correct terminology, but I completed a form for a friend who was getting married. It asked if she had been married before, if she understood about being faithful to her husband, the permanence of marriage, and similar questions. My pastor had to sign it and put the parish seal on it. Perhaps this is what the OP is asking about?
I don’t know the correct terminology, but I completed a form for a friend who was getting married. It asked if she had been married before, if she understood about being faithful to her husband, the permanence of marriage, and similar questions. My pastor had to sign it and put the parish seal on it. Perhaps this is what the OP is asking about?
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Matthew_Holford
Guest
A couple of questions based on some previous posts. Do the witnesses have to be Catholic? Do the witnesses have to do anything than witness the marriage, e.g. attest to the couples’ suitability for marriage?
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Phemie
Guest
No, the witnesses don’t have to be Catholic – even back in 1975 we weren’t asked the witnesses religion.A couple of questions based on some previous posts. Do the witnesses have to be Catholic? Do the witnesses have to do anything than witness the marriage, e.g. attest to the couples’ suitability for marriage?
No, they have no other role than to witness and sign the documents. They are never asked any questions and don’t attest to anything at that point – I’ve seen marriages where the names of the witnesses weren’t even known until they showed up. When the documents were prepared I left the witness section blank and the priest wrote in the names and required information
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FrDavid96
Guest
No, they don’t necessarily have to be Catholic.A couple of questions based on some previous posts. Do the witnesses have to be Catholic? Do the witnesses have to do anything than witness the marriage, e.g. attest to the couples’ suitability for marriage?
All they have to do is literally witness the ceremony.
There is a definite preference for Catholic witnesses (and a diocese might even require this), because in order to later attest that “a Catholic wedding did indeed occur” it’s always better to have a witness who understands what “Catholic wedding” means.
Sometimes, in the pre-marriage investigation, the priest needs to ask questions of a 3rd party (questions like “has this person ever married or attempted marriage before?”…) It often happens that the person is also one of the witnesses, but that’s just a matter of coincidence and convenience.
It is typical that the official witnesses be the best man and the maid of honor. It’s typical but it’s not required.
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FrDavid96
Guest
That’s something different. That happens before the marriage. The witness is one who is present for the ceremony itself.…
I don’t know the correct terminology, but I completed a form for a friend who was getting married. It asked if she had been married before, if she understood about being faithful to her husband, the permanence of marriage, and similar questions. My pastor had to sign it and put the parish seal on it. Perhaps this is what the OP is asking about?
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Matthew_Holford
Guest
Thanks Phemie and Fr David for those answers.
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kwalrath
Guest
Thank you all for the information. This request was in fact made as part of the preparation for the marriage. He has been asked to accompany the couple and sign a form as part of the preparation for the wedding that will occur next summer.
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