Is it Sacramental?

[yessisan]

The Pastor at my Parish recently turned in a petition for my marriage to be sanated.

Thing is that my case is a bit complicated. My DH was baptized, did his first communion, and was confirmed in the CC. He was 10 yrs old when his mother switched to JWs, and he did not really get a chance to get to know the CC’s teachings. He grew up believing in the JWs. So, now at 23, he’s a baptized JW, however, he did not renounce the faith by writing a letter to his diocese. He was baptized at 19 as a JW, however he is disfellowshipped.

We married civilly in March '06, and because he refuses to marry or convalidate through the CC, I was informed about the radical sanation.

Now I’m wondering, if the sanation is granted, and he is still Catholic to the eyes of the Church (according to what several pastors have told me), and because he didn’t formally renounce the faith, is our marriage going to be considered sacramental? Or is it just going to be valid and non-sacramental because he was baptized a JW?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Your question is difficult and really requires a canon lawyer to be sure you’re getting the right answer. I’m not a canon lawyer, but have studied the canons a marriage pretty extensively.

Here’s my take on the situation. Although baptism in another faith would normally be considered a “formal action” by which affiliation with the Catholic Church is severed, it’s not clear that he intended that action. Thus, the default would be that he is still a Catholic, albeit non-practicing.

But that has nothing to do with the sacramental status of your marriage! Since he was baptized Catholic he is a Christian and, since he is Christian your marriage will be sacramental once sanated.

Does that help?

Deacon Ed

 

[yessisan]

Your question is difficult and really requires a canon lawyer to be sure you’re getting the right answer. I’m not a canon lawyer, but have studied the canons a marriage pretty extensively.

Here’s my take on the situation. Although baptism in another faith would normally be considered a “formal action” by which affiliation with the Catholic Church is severed, it’s not clear that he intended that action. Thus, the default would be that he is still a Catholic, albeit non-practicing.

But that has nothing to do with the sacramental status of your marriage! Since he was baptized Catholic he is a Christian and, since he is Christian your marriage will be sacramental once sanated.

Does that help?

Deacon Ed

Yes it actually does help… THANKS!!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The Pastor at my Parish recently turned in a petition for my marriage to be sanated.

Thing is that my case is a bit complicated. My DH was baptized, did his first communion, and was confirmed in the CC. He was 10 yrs old when his mother switched to JWs, and he did not really get a chance to get to know the CC’s teachings. He grew up believing in the JWs. So, now at 23, he’s a baptized JW, however, he did not renounce the faith by writing a letter to his diocese. He was baptized at 19 as a JW, however he is disfellowshipped.

We married civilly in March '06, and because he refuses to marry or convalidate through the CC, I was informed about the radical sanation.

Now I’m wondering, if the sanation is granted, and he is still Catholic to the eyes of the Church (according to what several pastors have told me), and because he didn’t formally renounce the faith, is our marriage going to be considered sacramental? Or is it just going to be valid and non-sacramental because he was baptized a JW?

If a Marriage is valid and between two Validly Baptized persons it is Sacramental as well. His submission to JW babtism would generally be seen as an outward and public sign of his leaving the Catholic Church. It would however depend on his age and understanding at the time.

 

[yessisan]

If a Marriage is valid and between two Validly Baptized persons it is Sacramental as well. His submission to JW babtism would generally be seen as an outward and public sign of his leaving the Catholic Church. It would however depend on his age and understanding at the time.

That is why I’m confused. It wasn’t his choice to switch over to JWism. He was only 10 yrs old when his mom decided to switch over. He was taken against his dad’s knowlegde (in secret). Because he grew up with the JW beliefs, and did not get the chance to know the CC beliefs, I am having this dilemma. It wasn’t his choice, plus, a ten year old knows nothing about deciding what religion he should follow. Because he grew up from 10 on as a JW, he decided to baptize in that religion at 19. I was told that in order to renounce the faith, he had to send in a letter saying he wishes not to be Catholic. He never sent such letter.

Plus, the reason why he became a JW at ten is because he was that old when his dad decided to let the mom and kids go to that religion. He grew tired of the arguments, so I am not exactly sure of his exact age of when his mother started teaching him about the JWs…

I know that at 10 yrs of age I wouldn’t have understood what it meant to be Catholic or a JW… I understand now becuase I am 25…

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

That is why I’m confused. It wasn’t his choice to switch over to JWism. He was only 10 yrs old when his mom decided to switch over. He was taken against his dad’s knowlegde (in secret). Because he grew up with the JW beliefs, and did not get the chance to know the CC beliefs, I am having this dilemma. It wasn’t his choice, plus, a ten year old knows nothing about deciding what religion he should follow. Because he grew up from 10 on as a JW, he decided to baptize in that religion at 19. I was told that in order to renounce the faith, he had to send in a letter saying he wishes not to be Catholic. He never sent such letter.

Plus, the reason why he became a JW at ten is because he was that old when his dad decided to let the mom and kids go to that religion. He grew tired of the arguments, so I am not exactly sure of his exact age of when his mother started teaching him about the JWs…

I know that at 10 yrs of age I wouldn’t have understood what it meant to be Catholic or a JW… I understand now becuase I am 25…

IMO
He did this when he was 19 and one would suppose that it would have been an adult decision on his part. He knows that he was baptized Catholic so as an adult now he has the ability to return to full union with the Catholic Chruch and complete his Sacraments of Initiation.

 

[dumspirospero]

He is a Catholic…baptized and confirmed…“There is one Lord, One Faith, One Baptism”…one can not be re-baptized…the JW baptism was invalid for two reasons…1st, he was already a Baptized Catholic…therefore, he could not be re-baptized…2nd Jehovahs Witnesses do not have valid sacramental baptisms to begin with.

As far as your marriage being Sacramental…I couldn’t tell you that for sure…but I do know you will need to have it convalidated in order for it to be valid in the eyes of the Church…which I guess means it is not considered valid until that point…but I could be wrong.

The Pastor at my Parish recently turned in a petition for my marriage to be sanated.

Thing is that my case is a bit complicated. My DH was baptized, did his first communion, and was confirmed in the CC. He was 10 yrs old when his mother switched to JWs, and he did not really get a chance to get to know the CC’s teachings. He grew up believing in the JWs. So, now at 23, he’s a baptized JW, however, he did not renounce the faith by writing a letter to his diocese. He was baptized at 19 as a JW, however he is disfellowshipped.

We married civilly in March '06, and because he refuses to marry or convalidate through the CC, I was informed about the radical sanation.

Now I’m wondering, if the sanation is granted, and he is still Catholic to the eyes of the Church (according to what several pastors have told me), and because he didn’t formally renounce the faith, is our marriage going to be considered sacramental? Or is it just going to be valid and non-sacramental because he was baptized a JW?

 

[yessisan]

He is a Catholic…baptized and confirmed…“There is one Lord, One Faith, One Baptism”…one can not be re-baptized…the JW baptism was invalid for two reasons…1st, he was already a Baptized Catholic…therefore, he could not be re-baptized…2nd Jehovahs Witnesses do not have valid sacramental baptisms to begin with.

As far as your marriage being Sacramental…I couldn’t tell you that for sure…but I do know you will need to have it convalidated in order for it to be valid in the eyes of the Church…which I guess means it is not considered valid until that point…but I could be wrong.

that’s what the radical sanation is for, it replaces the convalidation when one of the spouses refuses to marry or convalidate. So, that is why I was having trouble with whether it’s going to be sacramental or not.

To read more about it, check this out: radical sanation

 

[yessisan]

IMO
He did this when he was 19 and one would suppose that it would have been an adult decision on his part. He knows that he was baptized Catholic so as an adult now he has the ability to return to full union with the Catholic Chruch and complete his Sacraments of Initiation.

But if he was taught that the only true religion was that of the JWs, does it still apply? He never got to know the CC. His parents never showed him the path to the CC. The JWs believe the CC is the whore of Babylon, and he believes that too because he’s been so heavily indoctrinated his whole life.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

I think we’re missing the point here. He was baptized a Christian. Even if he formally left the Catholic Church (and I’m not convinced he did) his CATHOLIC baptism still makes him Christian. A valid marriage between two Christians is sacramental.

Deacon Ed

 

[yessisan]

I think we’re missing the point here. He was baptized a Christian. Even if he formally left the Catholic Church (and I’m not convinced he did) his CATHOLIC baptism still makes him Christian. A valid marriage between two Christians is sacramental.

Deacon Ed

Ok, thanks again for the clarification!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

But if he was taught that the only true religion was that of the JWs, does it still apply? He never got to know the CC. His parents never showed him the path to the CC. The JWs believe the CC is the whore of Babylon, and he believes that too because he’s been so heavily indoctrinated his whole life.

Personal opinion:

Since he was Baptized, received his First Communion which requires some Sacramental preparation, and was Confirmed , which also requires some Sacramental preparation. He has sufficient basic knowledge of the Catholic Faith. As a thinking adult knowing his background (to 10 years old) was Catholic he has a moral obligation to seek an understanding of the Catholic faith.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

that’s what the radical sanation is for, it replaces the convalidation when one of the spouses refuses to marry or convalidate. So, that is why I was having trouble with whether it’s going to be sacramental or not.

To read more about it, check this out: radical sanation

Yes, once the Marriage becomes a valid Marriage in the Catholic Church. It will also be a Sacramental Marriage.