Marriage Outside Catholic Church

[PJD1987]

Just a couple of quick questions on this topic.

Why are marriages outside of the Catholic Church considered invalid?

I’m trying to understand why God would refuse to acknowledge as binding and legitimate a marriage where both parties take sincere vows before Him in their ceremonies, it seems unnecessarily cruel from a God who is loving?

This question arises because a friend of mine got invited to a Baptist wedding as part of the Bridal Party and I was going to tell her not to go as I’ve read on here that we shouldn’t attend these services giving the false impression that we are legitimizing them. But then I realized I needed these questions answered for own as well so that I thoroughly understand them before I go off preaching to other people about it. I want to be a good witness to the faith, but to do that I must understand it and not just parrot the things I’ve read from Michelle Arnold lol Thank you in advance for your thoughts, they are greatly appreciated.

God Bless,
Paul

 

[Corki]

It’s only a problem if one of the spouses is Catholic. Mariages between non-Catholic Christians and even non-Christians are valid.

 

[puzzleannie]

Just a couple of quick questions on this topic.

Why are marriages outside of the Catholic Church considered invalid?

they are not considered invalid unless one or both parties is CAtholic and is disobeying Church law on marriage that is binding on Catholics. The Catholic Church recognizes marriage between two non-Catholics who are otherwise free to marry as valid until proven otherwise.

This question arises because a friend of mine got invited to a Baptist wedding as part of the Bridal Party and I was going to tell her not to go as I’ve read on here that we shouldn’t attend these services giving the false impression that we are legitimizing them. ul

the discussion you read here was probably about a family member of a Catholic who is getting married outside the Church. It is certainly permissible for a Catholic to attend the wedding of non-Catholics no matter where they get married. Yes if my daughter defies the authority of the Catholic Church and insists on getting married to a non-Catholic, without a dispensation, and does not have a Catholic priest or deacon as witness, and gets married at a location outside the Catholic church without permission I will sadly have to tell her I cannot attend as she is throwing away the most important gift we have given her after life itself, her faith.

 

[joanofarc2008]

The question is not so much of the ceremony it is of Baptismal promises. (Baptism as it is mentioned in the Bible often refers to a combination of what we think of now as both Baptism and Confirmation so this does countermand the but I was a baby argument…) The sin here is not just in not keeping in proper form but also in not keeping ones promises made in Sacraments of Initiation. Also it removes the Eucharist from the Nuptial Mass (if both parties are Catholic.)