Non-Christian wedding

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My cousin is getting married in July, and he’s not a Christian. Instead, he and his girlfriend are having some kind of “gypsy wedding”, and it will be held in a movie theater. I’ve tried to talk my mom out of going, but she insists on it. Will I be in a state of sin if I attend this wedding?
 
I think family is very important. I really value the relationships I have with all my cousins. Weddings are a great opportunity to see family members you may never get to see. There will likely be good food, and a fun party as well. Unless you have other plans or commitments, or travel is difficult, or you don’t care for your cousins that much, I see no reason not to go. By not going, you only hurt your relationships with your cousin and possibly others.

I don’t know the Catholic teaching here, but if Catholic teaching says don’t go, I would go anyways, because to me family is more important to me than worries about being in a “state of sin”.

I understand your concern, however, and I hope other people here will give you the full Catholic viewpoint, which I suspect may caution against going to an extent. It just saddens me when people ask questions like this, putting a dark shadow of sin and doom and hell on an otherwise joyous and celebratory wedding.
 
My cousin is getting married in July, and he’s not a Christian. Instead, he and his girlfriend are having some kind of “gypsy wedding”, and it will be held in a movie theater. I’ve tried to talk my mom out of going, but she insists on it. Will I be in a state of sin if I attend this wedding?
Non-Catholics marry validly when they marry civilly.

Unless either of them are Catholics who are failing to adhere to Catholic canon law requirements or they are non-Catholics who have an impediment to marriage, such as a prior marriage, there is nothing wrong with witnessing a non-Catholic marriage.
 
Like the other posters, I believe that keeping family ties strong is very important. There was a time that I didn’t believe this and now am paying a price. If you and your cousin were close growing up by all means go and enjoy yourself. If you don’t go, there may come a time when you will regret not going. Family ties are strong but once broken they are extremely hard to retie.

Go and keep you mother company and by all means enjoy the fesitivities.
 
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