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spotty
Guest
If a catholic rejects his faith, does it then matter if he chooses to marry outside the Church? Would the marriage be valid?
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woodland_poet
Guest
If one had rejected their faith, why would it matter to them whether their marriage was valid?
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rick43235
Guest
According to my understanding, if one is baptized as a Catholic, the Church considers that person to be Catholic forever…regardless of whether or not the person in question practices his/her faith. If that person married outside the Church, the Church would consider the marriage to be invalid.If a catholic rejects his faith, does it then matter if he chooses to marry outside the Church? Would the marriage be valid?
As a practical matter, however, someone who rejects their Catholic faith is not going to care one way or the other.
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Spencerian
Guest
Hi.If a catholic rejects his faith, does it then matter if he chooses to marry outside the Church? Would the marriage be valid?
See one answer to your question from noted Canon Lawyer Edward Peters in This Rock magazine: See the question entitled in the article: “Once people are baptized Catholic, are they Catholic forever? What if they marry outside of the Church or join another religion? If they aren’t Catholic anymore, how can they become Catholic again?”
The world will continue to spin for a defecting Catholic, including remarriage. However, if you are merely “shopping about for a faith” that fits your lifestyle, your worldly life may be pleasant but such actions could put you in spiritual jeopardy.
A marriage such as what you describe would not be valid in the eyes of the Church. Legality is an entirely different matter in the eyes of the state. The Church expects Catholics to work in concert with both canon law and state law. If one is not adhered to, then the marriage is invalid in one or both camps (spiritually or legally).
You can also read one of several older threads that discusses this common question.
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1ke
Guest
Yes.If a catholic rejects his faith, does it then matter if he chooses to marry outside the Church?
No.Would the marriage be valid?
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thistle
Guest
The marriage would not be valid.If a catholic rejects his faith, does it then matter if he chooses to marry outside the Church? Would the marriage be valid?
Such a person, by the way, would always be a Catholic, maybe a fallen Catholic but still Catholic. There is no out.
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blackrobe
Guest
Not quite, especially with respect to marriage: jimmyakin.org/2006/04/formal_defectio.htmlThe marriage would not be valid.
Such a person, by the way, would always be a Catholic, maybe a fallen Catholic but still Catholic. There is no out.
AMDG
jsa
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dfp42
Guest
I asked this same question about people being able to formally defect from the faith a few months back and I’ll quote what was said about it:
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Originally Posted by **dfp42** [forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=6775073#post6775073)
* I was reading this thread on AAA [forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=64951](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=64951)I’m confused on this paragraph
“It is true that, objectively speaking, a person who is a Catholic is objectively bound by Catholic marital law. However, the Church reasonably understands that someone who has formally left the Church because of a defect in that person’s faith or understanding cannot be reasonably expected to follow Catholic marital law. Because marriages among non-Catholics are presumed valid (and sacramental if both parties are baptized), those marriages of former Catholics are also presumed to be valid/sacramental if the conditions for a valid/sacramental marriage among non-Catholics have otherwise been met. Lapsed Catholics, on the other hand, have not left the Church and so are expected to follow the ecclesial disciplines necessary to assure the validity/sacramentality of their marriages”*
Canon Law previously provided a method for a person to formally defect from the Catholic faith. This formal defection included presenting a petition to the Bishop, in writing, and the reception of that defection by the Bishop. A notation would then be placed in the sacramental records of the defecting Catholic. This would release the Catholic from the canons pertaining to the form of marriage.
The Vatican changed this canon this year. The Church no longer allows for this process. A Catholic is bound by **all **canon laws regardless of whether their defection is formal or merely by walking away.
This question you linked to is from 2005. It is no longer accurate based on this new directive from the Vatican.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by **dfp42** [forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=6775073#post6775073)
*So if all marriages are considered valid, what would be the difference of someone getting married in the Catholic Church vs any other Church?*Catholic must marry in the Catholic form, or it is invalid.
Please see the proclamation
vatican.va/holy_father/be…nonici_en.html
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blackrobe
Guest
Yes, it would appear the current situation is that everyone baptized Catholic is bound by canonical form in marriage. I apologize for my hasty and outdated research. OTOH doesn’t B16’s proclamation address marriage specifically and therefore still theoretically allow for formal defection? My brain hurts but thanks for the clarification.All marriages are not considered valid.Code:Quote: Originally Posted by **dfp42** [forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=6775073#post6775073) *So if all marriages are considered valid, what would be the difference of someone getting married in the Catholic Church vs any other Church?*
Catholic must marry in the Catholic form, or it is invalid.
Please see the proclamation
vatican.va/holy_father/be…nonici_en.html
AMDG
jsa
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1ke
Guest
Formal defection no longer has a canonical impact on the form of marriage required of a Catholic. Benedict XVI changed this portion of canon law. It presented too many tribunal concerns regarding nullity as it was too vague in canon law. So Benedict removed it.
A Catholic is always required to marry in the Catholic form or obtain a dispensation from the Bishop. If they do not, their marriage is invalid. Now it is very black and white and tribunals will not have this issue any longer.
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1ke
Guest
No.OTOH doesn’t B16’s proclamation address marriage specifically and therefore still theoretically allow for formal defection?
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dfp42
Guest
Thank you 1ke you summed this up for me back in the summer when I asked about this. What I do tend to notice is that there seems to be many people quoting this answer. The answer was correct back then, but has changed now. I admit, I’m lacking in reading documents in which the Church has wrote or what the Pope says, but I’m working on learning them better throughout time. The internet is a good place for sources but I also been encountering many deceptive Catholic sites too as well. I love the forums, as it helps for answers about the faith, but in the end it all comes down to what the Church says in its teaching office.
-God Bless
-God Bless
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puzzleannie
Guest
it may not matter to him, but it does to the Church and to God and no it would not be valid. The exception would be someone who has formally defected from the Catholic Church, and the process for doing that has recently been more strictly defined, so a general answer is not possible.If a catholic rejects his faith, does it then matter if he chooses to marry outside the Church? Would the marriage be valid?
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