Marriage

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Tenacity7

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Can a Catholic attend a “Justice of the Peace” wedding? Can they attend the “celebration” afterwards?
 
Can they?? Well, no Catholic police are going to show up and slap on handcuffs if they try to attend 🙂

Is it wise - that depends.

Is either party Catholic?
 
Both the “bride” and “groom” to-be are Catholic, but have not recently, do not and have indicated that they don’t plan to practice anytime soon.

I guess I am wondering if there is any specific Church teaching.

I realize that the “Catholic Police” are not going to show up, but I am trying to live according to the Catholic Faith and its teachings.

If I show up, maybe I am enabling and encouraging this couple that it is okay not to follow the Church, even in decisions as important as the Sacrament of Marriage.

Pax, Brendan
 
**From what I have gathered from other threads with similar topics, it really depends on your relationship to the couple. Would you NOT going put a huge rift between you and, let’s say your brother, that will cause a lot of grief in the family? Will you be “cut off” from the couple because of them being so offended that you will not have any further opportunities to be a good witness to the faith?

My personal opinion is that, if you think that by going (but not participating…like being a groomsmen etc…) you will be able to keep a family relationship and keep doors open then you should attend. If these are just casual friends then just be"busy" on that date.**
 
Typed a long reply that went POOF…

I’ll borrow a line from Jimmy Akin - If God is not going to show up, I will not either.

I’d not be there to celebrate someone committing a grave sin, I’d pray for them and have another commitment that day.
 
I do recall reading years ago - it may have been in an old Baltimore Catechism - that it is a sin to attend if a Catholic is getting married in a non-Catholic wedding without a dispensation. So in the past, yes, that was a sin. I do not know of recent official Church pronouncements on the subject, though.
 
Hi Everyone,

We decided not to go and to be “busy.” We will continue to pray for them.

Thanks to all who gave their feedback!

Pax,
Brendan
 
There is an issue deeper than whether or not to attend such a secular wedding. That is why one would choose to associate with people who make a habit of behaving in this fashion. It seems to me that the OP really ought examine the criteria by which he chooses to list people as “friends” and determine whether or not such standards agree with Church teaching. Since no one has a right to one’s friendship, such a privilege ought to be reserved for individuals whose behavior conforms to at least a minimal standard of morality.
 
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