May a Catholic, civilly married only, receive the sacrament of confirmation?

[deescim]

A new parishioner is seeking to attend our 6 week adult preparation class for Confirmation. He is a baptized Catholic who received his First Communion as a child. He has been asked to be a godparent for an infant in another state. We have explained to him that in order to be a godparent he must be a fully initiated, practicing Catholic, over the age of 16. He is not able to be the Christian witness for the baptism since his wife, who is not Catholic will be the godmother. He is in a civil marriage. What is the Church’s teaching on conferring the sacrament of Confirmation to someone in a civil marriage , not wanting to have his marriage convalidated.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

One may not receive the sacrament of Confirmation in the state of mortal sin. To have marital relations with one with whom one is not validly married, one commits a mortal sin every time one does so. Further, to receive Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin is a further mortal sin–and when the community knows that one is not validly married it gives scandal as well.

He needs to get himself into a valid marriage and the state of grace before may receive any sacraments, let alone be a god parent.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.