Convalidation & RCIA

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MicheleH

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Good morning!

I have a friend who was supposed to come into the Church at Easter, however it was postponed due to covid-19.

Additionally, she had her convalidation scheduled before Easter, but that got cancelled because of covid-19.

She received a call Thursday that she will be able to come into the church on June 18th…and she was ecstatic. On Friday morning she got a call from the priest say she actually cannot come into the Church because her marriage is not convalidated.

Here is my question: is she still able to come into the church and promise to have her marriage convalidated after? … and what if she goes to confession beforehand and they promise to not to engage in the martial act until the convalidation?

The easy answer would be just to have them convalidated their marriage before the 18th. However…nothing ever is at easy, right? Her husband possibly has possibly contracted covid-19, and he is awaiting his test results. He needs to be quarantined for two weeks. Thanks be to God they were actually in the process of moving, and he is staying in their new house while she is in their old house. Which, as I think about it…is even more reason why they will surely not be engaging in the marital act.

On a side note, my niece came into the church 5 years ago and did not need to have her marriage convalidated before the confirmation. Because of this I’m not sure if it’s a Diocesan rule or a Church rule.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!! Thank you!!!

Michele
 
Thank you! I know my niece’s husband was baptized Catholic but not Confirmed … I just asked my friend if her husband was baptized Catholic. I’m just awaiting her answer.
 
Ok… I just spoke with my friend, and she is actually baptized Catholic but has never received her first Communion nor Confirmation. Her husband is baptized as Christian, but not Catholic.

Also …can’t she go to confession, and promise to live as brother and sister until their convalidation? This would not be difficult at all based on their circumstances
 
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The easiest thing to do would be for your friend to make an appointment to discuss her particular circumstances with her priest, instead of trying to go back and forth between here and there.
 
MicheleH said:
Ok… I just spoke with my friend, and she is actually baptized Catholic but has never received her first Communion nor Confirmation. Her husband is baptized as Christian, but not Catholic.
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So whether a couple that involves at least one Catholic needs a convalidation depends on how they married.

A Catholic who married a non-Catholic outside the Church (i.e., did not marry in Catholic form or ask for a dispensation from form) is not in a valid marriage and would require convalidation.
MicheleH said:
Also …can’t she go to confession, and promise to live as brother and sister until their convalidation? This would not be difficult at all based on their circumstances
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That is within her pastor’s discretion.
 
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The convalidation is supposed to come first, before the completion of any other sacraments of initiation in a situation like this. However, as imprudent as I personally may think it to be, the pastor (whose opinion is the only one that matters) can decide based on these circumstances if the proposal you make is reasonable.
 
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