May we elope?

[James_Holt]

Hi!!!

I got a quick wedding question. We’re both catholic. My fiance and I want to be married, and we’re planning for a Dec. wedding when I come home from my tour in Iraq. I come home for leave in May, and we don’t want to wait. Is it acceptable to elope and then have our Dec. wedding??

p.s. we don’t want anybody to know if we elope in May.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

No, it is not acceptable–unless you are married in a Catholic Church. The Church is against quickie marriages. Mariage ia a life-long thing and should be entered into carefully.

To get married outside of the Church is a mortal sin and the marriage is considered to be invalid by the Church. So everytime you have maritlal relations you commit a mortal sin. Nothing is worth that.

If you want to marry at that time, have her go to her priest and you go to your chaplain and start the marriage preparations so that you can get married then rather than in December. .

Or-----wait until December. Ask the Lord to help you wait. Thousands have. You are in our prayers and thank you for your service to our country.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.