Is a wedding in a Presbyterian church considered a sacrament?

[imageofGod]

Our godson, who was raised a Catholic has not been pracicing the faith for years. He is marrying his live in girl friend in a Presbyterian church. Will their marriage be considered sacramental?

 

[Angel_Bradford]

As a Catholic, your Godson is obligated to have his marriage witnessed by a Catholic Priest. Without a dispensation, his marriage is not valid in the eyes of the Church. Assuming that they are both free to marry, all that would be necessary is to meet with a priest about a convalidation. Once their marriage is convalidated, it will be both valid and sacramental.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

BOTH must be baptized for the marriage to be sacramental. You are correct that the marriage is invalid due to his Catholic baptism unless he: a) follows Catholic form, b) receives a dispensation to marry in another form {Presbyterian}, or c) convalidates the marriage after-the-fact.

 

[twf]

Better yet, he should request a dispensation from form in advance… then it will be a valid wedding.
I obtained such a dispensation. I was validly married in a Presbyterian church by an Alliance pastor using Anglican vows to a Pentecostal bride.

 

[Melchior_1]

There’s some Canon Law stuff here, so bear with me. Keep in mind of course I’ve learned this through self-study, so if you want the official goods contact your diocese’s canon lawyer.

Like all Sacraments; Form, Matter, Intent.

Matter: You need one man and one woman who are not in a currently valid marriage in order for the Sacrament to be valid. Not much else to discuss here, this is pretty straightforward.

Intent: The one man and one woman must intend on a Sacramental marriage. Intent also includes things like not lying about being open to children, not lying about past history, not being force into the marriage, not being in an abusive relationship where you feel trapped, and so on. This is also straightforward.

Form: The method used to administrate the Sacrament, this can be a bit more convoluted.

• If both parties are baptized Catholic and are married in a Catholic church with the proper marriage vows misc etc (ie; “the Form”) by Catholic clergy (priest, deacon), then yes, this is a valid marriage. This is regardless of the other party’s religious affiliation. Of note is that the Catholic clergy must have “faculties” (permission from the Ordinary, usually a Bishop) to celebrate the wedding. Lack of the priest or deacon faculties means the marriage is invalid.
• If one party is baptized Catholic and the other is not yet are married in a Catholic church with the proper marriage vows misc etc (ie; “the Form”) by Catholic clergy (priest, deacon), then yes, this is a valid marriage. This is regardless of the other party’s religious affiliation. Again, lack of the priest or deacon “faculties” means the marriage is invalid.
• If one party is baptized Catholic and the other is not yet are married in a Christian church with a valid baptismal formula with the proper marriage vows misc etc (ie; “the Form”) and you DO get a dispensation from your Bishop, then yes, this is a valid marriage. This is regardless of the other party’s religious affiliation.
• If one party is baptized Catholic and the other is not yet are married in a Christian church with a valid baptismal formula with the proper marriage vows misc etc (ie; “the Form”) and you DO NOT get a dispensation from your Bishop, then I believe no, this is not a valid marriage.
• If one party is baptized Catholic and the other is not yet are married in a Christian church without a valid baptismal formula with the proper marriage vows misc etc, then no, this is not a valid marriage - the “form” is incorrect.
• If one party is baptized Catholic and the other is not yet are married in a non-Christian church (like a synagogue) using their practices and forms, then no, this is not a valid marriage. Again, the “form” is incorrect.
• If neither parties are a baptized Catholic and they are married in a Christian church with a valid baptismal formula with the proper marriage vows misc etc (ie; “the Form”) - the marriage is valid.
• “Court house” marriages are not valid if one of (or both) the parties is Catholic. Once more, the “form” is incorrect.

EDIT: My initial post had some inaccurate information on two of these, it has been corrected.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

This one I’m not a 100% sure on, but I believe if neither parties are a baptized Catholic and they are married in a Christian church with a valid baptismal formula with the proper marriage vows misc etc (ie; “the Form”) - the marriage is valid.

“Court house” marriages simply aren’t valid on a Sacramental level, regardless of Catholic participants or not. Once more, the “form” is incorrect.

You were doing fine until these.

A courthouse wedding is just fine for non-Catholic and non-Orthodox Christians, non-Christians, and nonbelievers. Two Protestants, two Jews, two atheists, etc. who marry at the courthouse may very well have a valid marriage. If both parties are baptized it is also a sacramental marriage.

A Catholic or an Orthodox Christian who does not follow the requirements of their Church does not enter into a valid marriage.

 

[Melchior_1]

You were doing fine until these.

A courthouse wedding is just fine for non-Catholic and non-Orthodox Christians, non-Christians, and nonbelievers. Two Protestants, two Jews, two atheists, etc. who marry at the courthouse may very well have a valid marriage. If both parties are baptized it is also a sacramental marriage.

A Catholic or an Orthodox Christian who does not follow the requirements of their Church does not enter into a valid marriage.

Serves me right for not doublechecking before posting. You are indeed correct on both of these fronts!

 

[Phemie]

Depending on why the dispensation from form is granted, it’s even possible that the Catholic may marry validly at the court house.

Once the dispensation from form is granted for a non-Catholic minister to receive the exchange of consent, the wedding can take place wherever that minister chooses. I’ve known dispensations to be granted for weddings that were taking place in the bride’s parents’ garden.

 

[1ke]

Our godson, who was raised a Catholic has not been pracicing the faith for years. He is marrying his live in girl friend in a Presbyterian church. Will their marriage be considered sacramental?

To be married validly, you’re Catholic godson needs to marry in the Catholic Church or receive a dispensation to get married elsewhere. If he does not, his marriage is not valid.

Given that he has been away for years, he is unlikely to pursue this or care what the Church teaches about marriage. So you know your godson better than anyone here and whether this is a topic you can talk to him about.

If he does not marry validly, he also does not have a sacramental marriage. A sacramental marriage is a valid marriage between two baptized people.