New Catholic Friend is now cohabitating and getting married outside the Church

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I don’t know that it really matters, but are you a new Catholic or is your friend a new Catholic?
 
A priest I know says we are not supposed to, but I am not sure if that is his opinion or church teaching. I wouldn’t go if I were in such a situation, but that’s just me.
 
I would go.

Love the sinner but not the sin.

Despite how I felt about a friend’s actions I would still love her and want to be there to celebrate her milestones in life.
 
If your friend is a Catholic and is getting married outside the Church, after living in sin, (without confession), this is a bad, bad thing. You probably have no business supporting that by attending, though make it clear why.
 
dove51 said:
A priest I know says we are not supposed to, but I am not sure if that is his opinion or church teaching. I wouldn’t go if I were in such a situation, but that’s just me.
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I have seen that opinion in several sources I respect. However, it appears to only be an opinion. I don’t know of any definitive Church teaching on this.
 
Thank you everyone who chimed in. Seems the best thing for me to do is to not attend. In all honesty, it just doesn’t feel right to go in my gut and my children need to understand that there is a right way and a wrong way to do important things, especially where it comes to sacraments.

Now to figure out just how to keep the friendship, but lose the invite!

Hugs to everyone!
 
A true friend will respect your beliefs.

Explain that you will be there to celebrate with them the day that they marry in the Church.
 
I’m in the minority here, but I was a fallen away Catholic, who married outside of the church.
Had my catholic friends not attended my wedding, I don’t know that I would have bothered to maintain my friendships with them. Why would I have? There are plenty of friends who would have come to the wedding and supported me. Why would I choose friends who didn’t?
As it was, they came to my wedding and celebrated. It’s almost three years later, and, with their continued presence in my life, I have become closer and closer to God, and the Church.
If you feel that you simply cannot attend this wedding, still extend your best wishes to your friend. I would not tell them that you cannot attend because you believe them to be sinning.
But, again, this is your life and your situation. Do what you think is best.
God bless.
 
yellowbicycle said:
I’m in the minority here, but I was a fallen away Catholic, who married outside of the church.
Had my catholic friends not attended my wedding, I don’t know that I would have bothered to maintain my friendships with them. Why would I have? There are plenty of friends who would have come to the wedding and supported me. Why would I choose friends who didn’t?
As it was, they came to my wedding and celebrated. It’s almost three years later, and, with their continued presence in my life, I have become closer and closer to God, and the Church.
If you feel that you simply cannot attend this wedding, still extend your best wishes to your friend. I would not tell them that you cannot attend because you believe them to be sinning.
But, again, this is your life and your situation. Do what you think is best.
God bless.
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I’m with Yellowbicycle. What good would it do not to attend and upset your friend. Isn’t your presence in their lives a better witness than not being there? We don’t have to condone behavior, but living our lives as a Catholic Christain for all to see can have a powerful effect.
 
I would send back a letter with the invitation stating your deep convictions, and your conscience on this issue.

I was in a similar situation as your friend (not cohabitating thou) and recently converted back to the faith. Make sure you know they know what they are doing.
 
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