From what I’ve read and heard, if either is Catholic (whether practicing or not), the answer is no - as Catholics, they would under the Church’s authority, and would not be free to marry in a ceremony outside the Church without a Bishop’s approval. Therefore, the marriage should be convalidated (if the couple wished to be in good standing) and would be eligible for annulment.If two baptised non practicing Christians are married to each other in a non religious ceremony outside of a Church, is this still considered a sacramental marriage?
Would their marriage be considered non dissolvable in the eyes of the Catholic Church?
rcsouthwark.co.uk/nullity.htmlWHAT IF I WAS MARRIED OUTSIDE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
Catholics are bound to marry according to the Catholic form of marriage, unless they are dispensed. So if a Catholic has married in a non-Catholic Church, or in a register office, without this dispensation being given, the marriage is invalid. Both parties to such a union can be declared free to marry, enabling each of them to enter a new marriage.
If there are no other impediments, then yes. Secular authorities validly confer marriage (recall that marriage pre-dates the Church!). A valid marriage cannot exist between the baptized except that it be a sacrament. Only Catholics are bound to marry in a Catholic form.If two baptised non practicing Christians are married to each other in a non religious ceremony outside of a Church, is this still considered a sacramental marriage?
Once it has been consummated, such a marriage would be indissoluble except by death.Would their marriage be considered non dissolvable in the eyes of the Catholic Church?
As long as neither was Catholic, yes.If two baptised non practicing Christians are married to each other in a non religious ceremony outside of a Church, is this still considered a sacramental marriage?
Would their marriage be considered non dissolvable in the eyes of the Catholic Church?
Conversely, if a Catholic is married in an Orthodox ceremony without permission from his or her Catholic ordinary, I understand that the marriage is valid though illicit. (And both valid and licit if permission is granted). On the other hand, If a Catholic attempts marriage in a Protestant or non-Christian / secular ceremony without permission, the marriage is invalid.As long as neither was Catholic, yes.
There is a small exception for the Orthodox, if I’m not mistaken. If an Orthodox Christian marries outside of his/her Church, neither the Orthodox nor the Catholic Church would consider that marriage valid.
This is confusing me. I was Baptist and was married, then divorced. I am in the process of getting an annulment, in which I likely would not have a case at all , if not for the fact that she refused to have children. I had no knowledge of the Catholic Church at the time. My first one is considered a valid marriage unless proven otherwise, but if I had been Catholic (knowing the rules) and had done it anyway, it would be invalid???Yes, any valid marriage of two baptized Christians is Sacramental.
Valid, consumated Christian marriage is indissoluble.
The Catechism on Marriage:
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c3a7.htm
All Catholics are required to marry in the Catholic Church OR get a dispensation from the bishop prior to marriage for the marriage to be held in any other place. So if a Catholic gets married in any other venue than a Catholic Church and does not have a dispensation, the marriage is not valid.This is confusing me. I was Baptist and was married, then divorced. I am in the process of getting an annulment, in which I likely would not have a case at all , if not for the fact that she refused to have children. I had no knowledge of the Catholic Church at the time. My first one is considered a valid marriage unless proven otherwise, but if I had been Catholic (knowing the rules) and had done it anyway, it would be invalid???
I married a Catholic girl outside the church, so if we divorced, our marriage would be considered invalid automatically?
Yepbut if I had been Catholic (knowing the rules) and had done it anyway, it would be invalid???
A valid Christian marriage requires that the partners intend to make a lifelong commitment and be open to life.This is confusing me. I was Baptist and was married, then divorced. I am in the process of getting an annulment, in which I likely would not have a case at all , if not for the fact that she refused to have children.
My case would likely go nowhere if not for her refusal of a family. My understanding is that is a legitimate reason to have it ruled invalid.A valid Christian marriage requires that the partners intend to make a lifelong commitment and be open to life.
Actually, you’re both being held to the same high standard - a valid marriage is one in which both spouses consent, are free from impediment, and follow any applicable form for the ceremony. However, you’re comparing apples and oranges here.The part that doesn’t add up to me is that as one who was ignorant of Catholic rules, I’m being held to a higher standard than a person born Catholic who should know better. Can someone explain why it is done that way?
You aren’t being held to a higher standard.The part that doesn’t add up to me is that as one who was ignorant of Catholic rules, I’m being held to a higher standard than a person born Catholic who should know better. Can someone explain why it is done that way? I’m not arguing the point, I just can’t get my hands around the concept.
:nope:As non Catholics are not held to Canon Law of the Catholic Church, the validity of their marriage is dependant on factors such as baptism, form, and so on.
If either is Catholic then it could only be valid if in extraordinary circumstances of no priest for a month. If neither is Catholic but is Christian it is based on the acceptable form for that particular Church or ecclesial community. If non religious ceremony is acceptable to that particular Church or ecclesial community then it would meet the form.If two baptised non practicing Christians are married to each other in a non religious ceremony outside of a Church, is this still considered a sacramental marriage?
Would their marriage be considered non dissolvable in the eyes of the Catholic Church?
What is one party is Christian (non-Catholic) and the other is unbaptized but they meed all of the other commitments you mention?If either is Catholic then it could only be valid if in extraordinary circumstances of no priest for a month. If neither is Catholic but is Christian it is based on the acceptable form for that particular Church or ecclesial community. If non religious ceremony is acceptable to that particular Church or ecclesial community then it would meet the form.
It is then presumed a valid sacrament if they are both Christian and hold to the marriage as lifelong, exclusive, and granting conjugal right, and with no impediments.
In that case, it would be a valid marriage, but it would not be a Sacrament. In order to be a Sacrament, both parties must be baptized.What is one party is Christian (non-Catholic) and the other is unbaptized but they meed all of the other commitments you mention?
First, let’s see if I have the question correct:Presumably if the first party is a Catholic rather than a non-Catholic Christian the same Catholic rules would apply and it would need to be convalidated.
Apologies for the lack of clarity on the latter part. Your reading of my intent was correct. And thank you for the answers. But they raise another question for me. In either case, where a licit marriage existed for a Christian and Unbaptized person, or for a Catholic and unbaptized person in both of my examples as you understood them… is there a way for them to raise that licit marriage to a sacrament? I presume the first step would obviously be for the unbaptized party to be baptized Catholic in both cases, and the non-Catholic Christian to convert to Catholicism in the first example? But what would be the next step if any?In that case, it would be a valid marriage, but it would not be a Sacrament. In order to be a Sacrament, both parties must be baptized.
First, let’s see if I have the question correct:
The situation is that a priest is unavailable for more than a month.
A Catholic and an unbaptized person want to marry.
(Nothing else applies, such as previous marriages, etc. etc.)
Is that the situation?
If I have the question correct, then it would not be a situation requiring a convalidation. The ceremony where the couple exchanges consent in front of witnesses (but not a priest or deacon) is itself the only necessary ceremony.
It would not be a Sacrament by virtue of the fact that one party is unbaptized; however it would be a valid and licit marriage.
The valid Baptism of the unbaptized person is all that is required to make the valid marriage a sacramental one. It is not necessary that the person be baptized into the Catholic Church.Apologies for the lack of clarity on the latter part. Your reading of my intent was correct. And thank you for the answers. But they raise another question for me. In either case, where a licit marriage existed for a Christian and Unbaptized person, or for a Catholic and unbaptized person in both of my examples as you understood them… is there a way for them to raise that licit marriage to a sacrament? I presume the first step would obviously be for the unbaptized party to be baptized Catholic in both cases, and the non-Catholic Christian to convert to Catholicism in the first example? But what would be the next step if any?
Once the unbaptized party is baptized, the marriage becomes a Sacrament. Nothing else is needed.Apologies for the lack of clarity on the latter part. Your reading of my intent was correct. And thank you for the answers. But they raise another question for me. In either case, where a licit marriage existed for a Christian and Unbaptized person, or for a Catholic and unbaptized person in both of my examples as you understood them… is there a way for them to raise that licit marriage to a sacrament? I presume the first step would obviously be for the unbaptized party to be baptized Catholic in both cases, and the non-Catholic Christian to convert to Catholicism in the first example? But what would be the next step if any?
Would you please explain? I was not aware that any Sacrament could be retroactive. I thought the subject/minister/matter/intent/form of a Sacrament had to be valid at the time. In the case of matrimony (in the Latin understanding), TWO of these conditions (subject and minister) were not valid at the time.Once the unbaptized party is baptized, the marriage becomes a Sacrament. Nothing else is needed.