Does he need the sacrament of marriage?

[malambo]

It is a concrete case. Here in Zambia, a couple had a traditional marriage. None of them was baptised and none of them was going to Church. Then the husband enrolled in the Catechumenate and was baptised together with some of his children. The wife refused to be baptised. The priest baptised him, but refused to allow him to receive communion, until he could receive marriage in Church, which the wife did not accept. Was it fair? A few years later, the wife asked for the baptism as well.

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

No, that was not the correct thing to do. Before someone becomes a Catholic they are under no obligation to be married in the Catholic Church. Therefore when two non-Catholics exchange vows they are validly married. The husband’s baptism did not invalidate his marriage. If both parties of the marriage become baptized the marriage will automatically become a sacramental marriage, there is no need for another exchange of vows.
There was no reason for this man to be denied communion or confirmation.