Civil marriage and christian ceremony

[bellasdad]

I am a practicing Catholic and my fiancee is a non-denominational Canadian christian. I am awaiting a request for a dispensation to marry in her church. Our wedding is scheduled for June 1st. My question is, since I will be moving to Canada we were thinking of getting married in the U.S.in a civil courthouse ceremony so we can start the paperwork for me to get an open work permit so that I can get a job right after I move up in June. Is this allowed within catholic teaching?

 

[1ke]

Is this allowed within catholic teaching?

A marriage at the courthouse, without a dispensation from form to do so is not valid.

But if you marry in the courthouse, it may not be possible to marry in her church also.

You should speak to your priest about marrying validly in your church or hers and to an immigration attorney about how to marry validly in the church and legally as far as Canadian immigration law is concerned.