Marriage and Baptism

[Jocko_VT]

Long story short: I’ve been married for 13 years to another atheist in a civil ceremony. I’m still an atheist–and have been since I started thinking–as is my wife, but it’s becoming harder to say that because I’ve been reading the Catechism and, in particular, the broad discussion of the Decalogue and the discussion of social justice have really gotten to me and I’ve started going to Mass. This is not the God of the people I grew up around and is not the God I’ve been denying all these years. This is something that I think I believe in. I read sections of the Catechism to my wife, and she sees it as I do.

I’m thinking a few steps ahead here, but I’m curious about the status of my marriage were I to go through the necessary process and be Baptized and Confirmed in the Catholic Church. If I convert, is my marriage fully recognized by the Church? If my wife also were to convert, would we need to (or should we, or could we if we like) be re-married in the Church?

Thanks for any answers.

 

[TheMc]

Long story short: I’ve been married for 13 years to another atheist in a civil ceremony. I’m still an atheist–and have been since I started thinking–as is my wife, but it’s becoming harder to say that because I’ve been reading the Catechism and, in particular, the broad discussion of the Decalogue and the discussion of social justice have really gotten to me and I’ve started going to Mass. This is not the God of the people I grew up around and is not the God I’ve been denying all these years. This is something that I think I believe in. I read sections of the Catechism to my wife, and she sees it as I do.

I’m thinking a few steps ahead here, but I’m curious about the status of my marriage were I to go through the necessary process and be Baptized and Confirmed in the Catholic Church. If I convert, is my marriage fully recognized by the Church? If my wife also were to convert, would we need to (or should we, or could we if we like) be re-married in the Church?

Thanks for any answers.

As far as I know, your marriage can only become sacramental if both you and your wife are baptized.

I’ll be praying for you!

 

[dans0622]

Hello Jocko_VT,

The important question here regards baptismal status. Since it appears that you and your wife were never baptized or received into the Catholic Church, your marriage is “fully recognized” by the Catholic Church. You would not need to do anything.

If, as we Catholics would hope, both you and your wife come to be baptized, your marriage would automatically become Sacramental. If only one of you becomes Catholic, you still would not need to do anything regarding your marriage. You can always receive a special blessing for married couples, if you wish.

(This is all presuming that neither one of you was previously married. If this is not the case, there would be other issues.)

May the true God, Whom you are discovering, bless you.

Dan

 

[Brendan]

The Church recognizes two distinct types of marriages.

1. Natural Marriage - This is the form of Marriage that has existed thoughout most of human history. This is the normative state of marriage for two unbaptized persons. It is fully recognized as valid by the Church
2. Sacramental Marriage - This is the state of Marriage between two Baptized persons. As with Natural Marriage, it is valid and binding. Sacramental Marriage differs in that God provides additional Graces to the couple to assist them in bringing each other to Heaven.

So in summary, if you and your wife are currently unbaptized and you enter the Church, the Church will still recognize your marriage as a valid marriage and that your wife is truely your spouse.

There are the standard caveats, that you are both adults, neither was married to someone else prior, you both entered marriage freely of your own will etc…

 

[Jeffe]

Welcome! Great to hear you and your wife are taken interest in God and the Catholic church!

If you’re looking for some reading material regarding God, conversion stories, science and God, etc… Please let me know!

Blessings!

-Jeffe

 

[DianaCC]

When the second of the two of you converts, you two will have an opportunity to run through your marriage vows as part of the conversion ceremony in church in front of everyone; at that point your marriage will become a sacrament.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m thinking a few steps ahead here, but I’m curious about the status of my marriage were I to go through the necessary process and be Baptized and Confirmed in the Catholic Church. If I convert, is my marriage fully recognized by the Church? If my wife also were to convert, would we need to (or should we, or could we if we like) be re-married in the Church?

Thanks for any answers.

welcome home, no matter how long it takes you to get up the front steps and knock on the door

not enough info
in general the Catholic Church recognizes as valid the marriage of an unbaptized man and woman, no matter who has witnessed the marriage, as long as they are otherwise free to marry. She recognizes the marriage of two baptized non-Catholics as both valid and sacramental, providing they are otherwise free to marry. should you decide someday to convert, and your wife does not want to take that step, unless there is more to the story, your marriage is still valid. This is something to discuss with the priest when you are ready to go speak to him about investigating the Catholic faith more formally through the RCIA process.

should the happy day come you both are baptized your valid marriage automatically becomes sacramental, no further action is necessary.

 

[Myqyl]

Welcome aboard!

I’d suggest that you should discuss this with the priest at the Mass you’ve been attending. He can guide you far better then us Forum Friends can…

God bless and welcome!