Clergy participation in civil marriage

[deaconferret]

Can a deacon participate before, during or after a civil marriage between a catholic and a non-catholic. For instance, can he have a opening ceremony and closing ceremony with a prayer before and after the civil ceremony performed by a justice of the peace? Or could he say the prayer before the meals after the ceremony? Thanks.
deaconferret

 

[1ke]

If a Catholic and non-Catholic have received a dispensation from canonical form then a deacon or priest may participate in the same capacity as a lay person-- doing a reading, etc. They may not receive the vows, they may not preside in a liturgical capacity. Certainly they can say grace at the meal, just as any other person can.

If a Catholic attempts an invalid marriage by marrying outside Catholic form without a dispensation, a Catholic deacon may not participate in any capacity nor should he be present as a witness.

 

[Phemie]

Can a deacon participate before, during or after a civil marriage between a catholic and a non-catholic. For instance, can he have a opening ceremony and closing ceremony with a prayer before and after the civil ceremony performed by a justice of the peace? Or could he say the prayer before the meals after the ceremony? Thanks.
deaconferret

Is the marriage a valid one? Did the Catholic obtain the necessary dispensation for the wedding to be celebrated by a justice of the peace? If so, then I don’t see a problem – though if the Catholic is going to involve him to that extent why not simply have him be the officiant?

If the Catholic is not having a valid marriage I don’t see how the deacon can even consider participating.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

Is the marriage a valid one? Did the Catholic obtain the necessary dispensation for the wedding to be celebrated by a justice of the peace? If so, then I don’t see a problem – though if the Catholic is going to involve him to that extent why not simply have him be the officiant?

If the Catholic is not having a valid marriage I don’t see how the deacon can even consider participating.

It is a natural marriage and not a sacramental one, but it is a real marriage. (Unlike an unnatural marriage between polygamists, or homosexuals.) The deacon can only officiate if it is a sacramental marriage.

 

[Elizium23]

It is a natural marriage and not a sacramental one, but it is a real marriage. (Unlike an unnatural marriage between polygamists, or homosexuals.) The deacon can only officiate if it is a sacramental marriage.

There is no such thing as an “unnatural” marriage, and the attempted unions you describe are invalid and not marriages at all.

A sacramental marriage is one between two baptized persons. This has little to do with whether it is contracted in a religious or civil ceremony, or whether a clergyman can preside over the ceremony. Assuming the proper permission is obtained, clergy may also preside in a ceremony for a mixed marriage (disparity of cult) in which one party is Catholic and one is unbaptized. This type of wedding would not normally be performed in a Mass, but a service including the Liturgy of the Word.

 

[Corki]

It is a natural marriage and not a sacramental one, but it is a real marriage. (Unlike an unnatural marriage between polygamists, or homosexuals.) The deacon can only officiate if it is a sacramental marriage.

A natural marriage occurs when at least of the spouses is unbaptized. In the OP’s example, we know that one is a Catholic but we don’t know about the other person. Whether a natural marriage or not, its validity will depend on what permissions or dispensations are obtained.

A deacon cannot officiate at a civil marriage, even with dispensations…

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

There is no such thing as an “unnatural” marriage, and the attempted unions you describe are invalid and not marriages at all.

A “marriage” that is not a real marriage is termed an unnatural marriage. I am speaking technically, not trying to justify the unjustifiable.

(I’m sorry, but I can’t tell if you meant to seem angry or not.)

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

A natural marriage occurs when at least of the spouses is unbaptized. In the OP’s example, we know that one is a Catholic but we don’t know about the other person. Whether a natural marriage or not, its validity will depend on what permissions or dispensations are obtained.

A deacon cannot officiate at a civil marriage, even with dispensations…

You are right; I assumed that the other party was unbaptized, but that isn’t explicitly stated in the OP.

 

[Phemie]

A natural marriage occurs when at least of the spouses is unbaptized. In the OP’s example, we know that one is a Catholic but we don’t know about the other person. Whether a natural marriage or not, its validity will depend on what permissions or dispensations are obtained.

A deacon cannot officiate at a civil marriage, even with dispensations…

My question was more along the line of “If you want the deacon to be that involved, why didn’t you just get married in the Church in the first place?”

 

[1ke]

It is a natural marriage and not a sacramental one, but it is a real marriage. (Unlike an unnatural marriage between polygamists, or homosexuals.) The deacon can only officiate if it is a sacramental marriage.

This is not accurate.

A priest or deacon can officiate at the marriage of a Catholic and a non-baptized person. See canon law guidelines on marriage.

 

[deaconferret]

Thanks alot for all of you who replied to my question about clergy participation in a civil marriage. Being a deacon for 25 years I never ran across this before. I knew I could not take part in the ceremony but was uncertain, since the family of the catholic bride are friends of mine, if I could even say a prayer before or after the ceremony.
My pastor advised me that I could not participate in any clerical action on behalf of the church because that would show approval on the church’s part.
By the way, to my knowledge there were no dispensations granted for this civil wedding.
Thanks again to all of you.
deaconferret

 

[1ke]

By the way, to my knowledge there were no dispensations granted for this civil wedding.
Thanks again to all of you.
deaconferret

Then you should not be in attendance, let alone participating in any way, and certainly not giving any sort of “blessing” either before or after. What would you be blessing? Fornication and mortal sin.