Is this a rule? Best man and matron of honour

[Atreyu]

A very orthodox Catholic couple that are friends of mine informed me that there is a rule that at least one out of the best man or matron of honour at a Catholic wedding needs to be Catholic. Is this true? I asked my priest about it, and he had no idea. If it is true, can I ask my brother - who is a non-practicing Catholic - to be my best man?

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I would check with the local diocese.

 

[mosher]

No, canon law only specifies that the Best Man and Maid of Honor are Christian.

Remember, the Best Man and Maid of Honor are to act like Godparents or Sponsers in the Sacrament of Matrimony just as you have a Confirmation sponser and Godparents for baptism. Selection should reflect that these two people will be of good help to you in your marriage as people to turn to in time of trouble and who will respond to your assistance in faith and prayer.

 

[cameron_lansing]

No, canon law only specifies that the Best Man and Maid of Honor are Christian.

Having practiced it for a number of years, I would respectfully have to assert that canon law for the Latin Church does not impose that requirement. Nor have I ever heard or read of such a requirement in the commentaries of approved authorities.

Canon 1108 §1 only mentions two witnesses.

The law treats matrimony quite different than it does the situations of baptism and confirmation. This is a case where we cannot impose a requirement by way of analogy to the requirements found in the canons for those sacraments. In baptism and confirmation, we are speaking of sponsors who have some role of assistance or of attesting to the faith of a recipient of the sacrament (cc. 872 and 892).

Here we would be speaking only of witnesses who do not have any such role, but only that of being witnesses to the fact of a legal celebration.

Even then, there is no requirement that the canonical witnesses also serve as “best man” or “maid of honor.” But practically, we tend to have the same persons serve as “best man / maid or matron of honor” and as canonical witnesses and as civil witnesses.

 

[mosher]

Having practiced it for a number of years, I would respectfully have to assert that canon law for the Latin Church does not impose that requirement. Nor have I ever heard or read of such a requirement in the commentaries of approved authorities.

Canon 1108 §1 only mentions two witnesses.

The law treats matrimony quite different than it does the situations of baptism and confirmation. This is a case where we cannot impose a requirement by way of analogy to the requirements found in the canons for those sacraments. In baptism and confirmation, we are speaking of sponsors who have some role of assistance or of attesting to the faith of a recipient of the sacrament (cc. 872 and 892).

Here we would be speaking only of witnesses who do not have any such role, but only that of being witnesses to the fact of a legal celebration.

Even then, there is no requirement that the canonical witnesses also serve as “best man” or “maid of honor.” But practically, we tend to have the same persons serve as “best man / maid or matron of honor” and as canonical witnesses and as civil witnesses.

This is the second mistake that I have made on this issue. I was asked the same question a while back and reaserched it more after I told them one thing and then I actually took the time to look at the Code. Thank you for the correction. I will not make this mistake a third time.

While it is true that the witnesses are just that witnesses. It is a good pastoral practice to advise that the so called Best Man and Maid of honor are those who will assist in the same manner as sponsers. It was to this that I was speaking when giving the analogy. Looking at my previous post my language about this issue was a little to de facto. Again, thank you for your expertise.

 

[Atreyu]

Thanks guys.