Do I need to abstain from Communion and/or my wife?

[TommyWommy]

I am Catholic, my wife is Protestant. I had drifted from the Church. We were married in a Protestant church with no priest. I have since returned to the Church including the sacrament of reconciliation. My wife is beginning RCIA, but I do not know if she will convert to Catholicism. The goal is to have a priest welcome our marriage into the Catholic faith, whether or not my wife becomes Catholic. In the meantime, do I need to abstain from my wife sexually? If we have sex, is it a mortal sin? Do I need to abstain from communion until the ceremony?

Additionally, the local priest is asking for a certificate of baptism from my wife so the marriage can be officially Christian. She was baptized in a little church that kept no such records, nor gave out baptism certificates. I feel stuck because no Protestant church will “re-baptize” her just to give her a certificate, and I don’t know if she will convert to Catholicism and be baptized there.

Suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Right now your marriage is not considered valid by the Catholic Church and so when you have marrital relations you commit a mortal sin. Yes, abstain from intercourse until your marriage is blessed. There is no reason why this can’t be accomplished very soon. It can easily be done in a private ceremony. Your wife’s baptismal certificate is not crucial. If she had never been baptized the marriage could still be made valid. If and when her baptism is proven the marriage would then become sacramental.

Get on your priest about this. There is no reason to delay in this. You are in my prayers.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.