Do Protestants have to be married in a church?

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ClaireS

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I am am RCIA team member. Today we discussed the Sacrament of Matrimony. I know that the Catholic Church considers the marriage of two baptized Protestants to be a sacrament. A statement was made in class that that is true only if vows are exchanged in their church (or before a minister) not before a justice of the peace and witnesses. I disagreed but realized I wasn’t sure. What does the Church really teach?
 
The essence of the sacrament of marriage is the exchange of vows and it is only when the Church places explicit laws regarding them would they become invalid. Canon law only applies to Catholics, therefore the canon law that the vows must be exchanged in the Church only applies to Catholics. Protestants are free to exchange vows anywhere while Catholics would need a dispensation to be married outside of Church. Therefore even if two Protestants exchange vows in Vegas with Elvis as the minister the vows are valid.
 
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