Lots of questions...please help

[ke111]

To start, I am a non-catholic. I have been raised and baptized in the Presbyterian Church. Now, I am engaged to a Catholic. Their are several problems that we are facing. The first is that not only have we been living together, but our first child is due before the wedding. We are getting married late in the summer in an outdoor wedding without a Catholic priest. Will our marriage be recognized for my future husbands sake by the Catholic Church, and what steps can we take to ensure that it is? Secondly, will our child be able to be baptized in the Catholic church as we both want to raise her as a Catholic?

Thanks for any advice as this is all very new to me.

 

[AmberDale]

I suggest you both go to a priest and talk with him. If you get married outside of the church without approval then the marriage will not be valid to the Church. It usually takes 6 months or more to get married in the church, but they may be able to grant it faster. You are supposed to take Pre-Cana and all that. But talk to your priest. Your fiancee will need to sign a form stating he will do everything he can to see that any children born into your marriage will be raised Catholic.
I’m pretty sure your angel will be able to get baptized Catholic. If you do get married without a priest, and no approbal then you aren’t married in the eyes of the church. So you need to go talk to the priest to get it approved.

(Please let me know if I told her wrong, I’m a new Catholic)

I was living with my husband before we were married. He was Catholic, I was not. We had planned to get married by the Church and started the process. I ended up getting pregnant before the wedding, but baby was born after the wedding.
My husband was told not to receive the Eucharist until we were married because we were living in sin.

 

[Toni]

I agree with AmberDale see the priest. Technically no they do not have to baptize the baby. You could possibly have your marriage blessed after meeting with a priest. Your chances are greater if you meet with one now.

I had a similar situation in which my husband and I were married in the courthouse. Later we had our marriage blessed. But I wish I would have talked to a good priest to help assist us.

 

[Shiann]

ke111:

To start, I am a non-catholic. I have been raised and baptized in the Presbyterian Church. Now, I am engaged to a Catholic. Their are several problems that we are facing. The first is that not only have we been living together, but our first child is due before the wedding. We are getting married late in the summer in an outdoor wedding without a Catholic priest.

You will not have the Catholic Sacrament of Marriage without a Catholic priest at your wedding, or without dispensation from the bishop. (Which is only granted under extreme circumstances.)

Will our marriage be recognized for my future husbands sake by the Catholic Church, and what steps can we take to ensure that it is?

I agree with the other posters- talk to your local Catholic priest. He will clear up any misconceptions and let you know what is required.

Secondly, will our child be able to be baptized in the Catholic church as we both want to raise her as a Catholic?

The priest should have confidence that your daughter will be raised Catholic before he performs the baptism.

If you don’t mind me asking, if you all want to be Catholic, and are planning on living Catholic after the wedding- why don’t you plan a Catholic marriage ceremony? (One with a priest?)

Thanks for any advice as this is all very new to me.

I commend you on asking! It takes a lot of guts to take the first step and live a more holy life. It won’t always be easy- as the answers to some of your questions will have seemingly black and white answers which may annoy you. But they are all for our collective benefit. They uphold the Holiness of the Sacraments. Anything good and righteous will be worth the effort and the annoyance.

 

[1ke]

ke111:

To start, I am a non-catholic. I have been raised and baptized in the Presbyterian Church. Now, I am engaged to a Catholic. Their are several problems that we are facing. The first is that not only have we been living together, but our first child is due before the wedding. We are getting married late in the summer in an outdoor wedding without a Catholic priest. Will our marriage be recognized for my future husbands sake by the Catholic Church, and what steps can we take to ensure that it is? Secondly, will our child be able to be baptized in the Catholic church as we both want to raise her as a Catholic?

Thanks for any advice as this is all very new to me.

Basically, as a Catholic your fiance is bound by Canon Law. It tells what steps are necessary for a Catholic to be married validly.

A Catholic must be married in the Catholic Church unless the proper paperwork is completed and a dispensation is granted.

You should make an appointment to talk to a priest immediately, discuss the entire situation, and take his guidance.

 

[AirForceMama]

Yes, your child will be able to be baptized in the Catholic church.

As far as getting married outside, obviously your husband is not a very strict Catholic, or he would know that it is not permitted. As far as getting ti recognized by the Church, yes, you can have your marriage blessed by a priest. Usuaully, unless you have been married for a while, you will still be required to go through marriage counseling in the Church.

Can I ask, if it is so important for the marriage to be recognized by the Catholic church, why not get married in the Catholic church with your pastor attending? That way both of you will be covered.