Dispensation from Canonical Form

[HoyaSaxa09]

I wanted to get the groups opinion on this, as I recently posted to the main forum but wanted a broader discussion as well.

I am engaged to a Lutheran woman, and wanted to know about getting a dispensation form canonical form. Reading cannon law (to the best of my ability), I understand that certain requirements must be met for the dispensation to be granted.

Her family has been very active in the Lutheran Church, and actually my own mother is Lutheran but my father was Catholic and I was raised in the Catholic church. My parents were married in a Lutheran Church with a co-officiant.

My fiance and I were hoping to find a more ecumenical solution, and have talked to a protestant minister that is a former head of ecumenical studies program at a respectable theology college. I can’t call my fiance’s family anti-catholic, but I know that they wouldn’t prefer that we had a Catholic ceremony - not would I want only a Lutheran ceremony. After discussing this with my fiance - we thought that this middle way would bring the most family harmony and start our relationship on a strong faithful foundation. I will never leave the Catholic faith and promise to teach our children about the Catholic faith.

Therefore, my question to the group - how is the process of a dispensation from canonical form granted? Is it a difficult process? I understand that the marriage will only be valid (not sacramental but valid) if granted therefore I take this very seriously.

I can’t say that I have been a perfect Catholic - but I do take my faith seriously.

Advice?

Do I have any chance of getting a dispensation? It means so much to me.

 

[kage_ar]

I wanted to get the groups opinion on this, as I recently posted to the main forum but wanted a broader discussion as well.

I am engaged to a Lutheran woman, and wanted to know about getting a dispensation form canonical form. Reading cannon law (to the best of my ability), I understand that certain requirements must be met for the dispensation to be granted. .

Your priest will guide you in filling out the request and submitting it to the Bishop.

I will never leave the Catholic faith and promise to teach our children about the Catholic faith. .

As a Catholic in a mixed marriage, your responsible to do all in your power to raise the children as Catholics - this is more than teaching “about” the Catholic faith.

I understand that the marriage will only be valid (not sacramental but valid) if granted therefore I take this very seriously. .

Marriage between two validly baptized persons who are free to marry is sacramental if it is valid.

Advice?.

Do a search on the many threads in family life about mixed marriages. Know that you are choosing a very difficult road.

 

[HoyaSaxa09]

Thank you for your reply.

I guess I should have clarified my point on teaching my children “about” the faith - and in the faith. That was more of a misuse of words than of not wanting to or trying to raise my children in full communion in the faith.

So yes I fully agree and understand your distinction about child raising and it is a good one to make.

Thank you also for your advice.

 

[irishmac]

I wanted to get the groups opinion on this, as I recently posted to the main forum but wanted a broader discussion as well.

I am engaged to a Lutheran woman, and wanted to know about getting a dispensation form canonical form. Reading cannon law (to the best of my ability), I understand that certain requirements must be met for the dispensation to be granted.

Her family has been very active in the Lutheran Church, and actually my own mother is Lutheran but my father was Catholic and I was raised in the Catholic church. My parents were married in a Lutheran Church with a co-officiant.

My fiance and I were hoping to find a more ecumenical solution, and have talked to a protestant minister that is a former head of ecumenical studies program at a respectable theology college. I can’t call my fiance’s family anti-catholic, but I know that they wouldn’t prefer that we had a Catholic ceremony - not would I want only a Lutheran ceremony. After discussing this with my fiance - we thought that this middle way would bring the most family harmony and start our relationship on a strong faithful foundation. I will never leave the Catholic faith and promise to teach our children about the Catholic faith.

Therefore, my question to the group - how is the process of a dispensation from canonical form granted? Is it a difficult process? I understand that the marriage will only be valid (not sacramental but valid) if granted therefore I take this very seriously.

I can’t say that I have been a perfect Catholic - but I do take my faith seriously.

Advice?

Do I have any chance of getting a dispensation? It means so much to me.

First off, may the Grace and Peace of Almighty God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Also, congratulations on your engagement.

Now, to the point. I also went through the same situation you are preparing for. My wife was raised Methodist, though she was somewhat lukewarm about her faith. I was born and raised in the Catholic faith. Now, the real problem was that my wife desired to be married in the same church her mother was married in, which would be a severe detriment to a Catholic wedding. But, I did not want to stomp on her dream, if I could prevent it. So I did some research and discovered that the Bishop can grant a Dispensation from Canonical Form and / or Place. Personally, I was granted a Dispensation of Canonical Place and Form, which turned out to be unnecessary as I was able to get a deacon to co-officiate the wedding ceremony. But I didn’t know, so, oh well.

A bishop can bestow (I don’t know that ‘bestow’ is the right word here) his authority to the Protestant minister within his bishopric through the Dispensation of Canonical Form. This dispensation is granted by the Bishop on a case to case basis, though. Usually, this is done through the Office of the Tribunal. Just remember this, a Bishop has authority for his geographic area; not just the churches in that region. So, his authority can be granted to a Protestant minister or Orthodox priest.

Things to remember:

• You and your fiancee will need to provide proofs of Trinitarian Baptism. You will need to provide proof of your Sacraments of Initiation {Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation}.
• You will still need to speak with your parish priest.
• You and your fiancee will be required to fill out the Freedom to Marry form.
• You and your fiancee will be required to participate in Pre-Cana classes or Engagment Encouter, pending on diocese requirements.
• You and your fiancee will need to make the commitment to receive the blessings of children, God’s precious gift of life, and make the solemn vow to raise them in the Faith.
• You and your fiancee might have to take Natural Family Planning (NFP) classes.

You will also want to speak with a Defensor Fidei, a canonical lawyer, at the diocese, to make sure you “have your ducks in a row.” Each diocese has one or more.

I don’t know if this is an issue, but you won’t be able to have a Lutheran communion service at your wedding ceremony, I think. Even if there is a communion rite with your wedding, you, as a Catholic, and your Catholic family will have to refrain from receiving. You probably know that. And that brings up a whole other issue. Having a communion service will cause alienation on both sides. Imagine you were marrying in the Church, and you had a Wedding Mass, and then, at the Liturgy of the Eucharist, only the Catholics (practicing) could receive Eucharist. This might cause alienation for the Lutheran family. You can do what we did. Your wedding service could be a Liturgy of the Word and the Nuptual Rite of the Church.

Good Luck. You can PM me if you would like to talk about this some more.

Dominus vobsicum!

 

[1ke]

Therefore, my question to the group - how is the process of a dispensation from canonical form granted?

You go through the marriage preparation process in the Catholic Church no matter where you will be having the ceremony. As part of that marital preparation there is a premarital investigation and paperwork. Your priest will complete the paperwork necessary to marry outside Catholic form. The priest will assist you in all necessary preparation and paperwork and will be responsible for sacramental records for the Catholic party.

Is it a difficult process?

That’s an individual question. They bishop must not have reason to believe the faith of the Catholic will be impeded or that there is danger of defection. If the priest is recommending it, I think probably 99.99% of the time it’s a simple process in the US. In other countries there is much more danger of the Catholic being oppressed, coerced, or forced to renounce their faith if they marry a non-Christian, so it’s likely a more serious investigation in some countries than it is here.

I understand that the marriage will only be valid (not sacramental but valid) if granted

This is incorrect. Any valid married between two baptized persons is a Sacrament by its very nature. If you follow Catholic marriage law, receive a dispensation, and are married outside Catholic form, your marriage will be valid and sacramental. That presumes your fiance is baptized.

Advice?

I hope you and your intended have discussed religion in your household and raising the children in very great detail.

 

[Thomas63116]

Hello and welcome! I am also a Catholic man engaged to a Lutheran woman, so I understand where you are coming from to some extent. There are a lot of us in Catholic/Lutheran relationships here on the forums.

I think my best advice is simply to talk with your priest as soon as possible. Start making arrangements for you and your fiancee to take the pre-Cana classes, etc. Talk with your priest about what the different options are for a ceremony. It would probably help if you and your fiancee have some idea of what you envision. I saw another thread where the wedding was held in a Methodist church, but the Catholic deacon perfromed the ceremony. That might be a possibility for you to consider.

Congratulations on your engagement and best wishes to you and your fiancee!

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Give some thought to your future children.

If your fiancee’s family (and presumably your fiancee as well) is opposed to your being married in a Catholic ceremony, how will they respond to your children being raised as Catholics? Will they want an ecumenical baptism or First Communion as well?