Is Baptism a requirement for the sacrament of Marriage?

[CBailey]

My daughter’s engaged to a young man who is half-Catholic, and he is not sure if he was baptized.

1. Is baptism a requirement for the sacrament of marriage?
2. If he was baptized in the Protestant faith, what denominations have valid baptisms? (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.)

thanks in advance.

 

[Kielbasi]

1. Is baptism a requirement for the sacrament of marriage?

Yes, but someone can still enter into a non-sacramental marriage with the appropriate dispensations.

Finding out whether this young man is baptized is essential to know so that the appropriate dispensation can be procured. There is a different dispensation required for getting married to a non-baptized person as opposed to someone who is just non-catholic.

1. If he was baptized in the Protestant faith, what denominations have valid baptisms? (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.)

Many do, the canon law office of your diocese will be able to help you as they deal with this issue all of the time.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

CBailey:

My daughter’s engaged to a young man who is half-Catholic, and he is not sure if he was baptized.

1. Is baptism a requirement for the sacrament of marriage?
2. If he was baptized in the Protestant faith, what denominations have valid baptisms? (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.)

thanks in advance.

“Half Catholic” ?

Yes The Sacrament of Marriage only takes place between two validly Baptized people.

There are general guidelines as to which Protestant denominations are usually valid. However each case is investigated for validity on it’s own merits.

 

[puzzleannie]

CBailey:

My daughter’s engaged to a young man who is half-Catholic, and he is not sure if he was baptized.

1. Is baptism a requirement for the sacrament of marriage?
2. If he was baptized in the Protestant faith, what denominations have valid baptisms? (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.)

thanks in advance.

I am so tempted to ask “which half?” but I won’t ask.
all these questions are brought to the priest or deacon who preparest them for marriage. this is a discussion forum only, not the tribunal. If your daughter is Catholic and is marrying a non-Catholic baptized Christian she requires a dispensation from the disparity of cult. If she is marrying a non-Christian, someone who has never been baptized, she requires another type of dispensation. In either case she must promise to be open to children and to rear the children in the faith.