May Catholics still marry civilly first?

[kalaaye]

I recently attended a update meeting on the sacraments of the church. There was one point that was very unclear to me, I know of people who have had a civil ceromony(being married by The Justice of the Peace) then being married in the church at a later time. Did I misunderstand or is still allowed. Thank you for your help in this matter.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

The United States recognizes marriages witnessed by Catholic priests. However, some countries do not. Therefore in such countries the couple are married first in a civil ceremony and then are married in the Church. But since the Church does not recognize a civil ceremony as valid, the couple must wait until they are married in the Church to have marital relations.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.