Non-sacramental Marriage?

[foreveralone]

New to these forums, so I apologize if this is not posted in the right place. Just a short and simple question: Can a Catholic who marries a non-Christian in the Catholic Church (so in other words, if she gets a dispensation to do so), can she still receive the Holy Eucharist? I realize that a marriage to a non-Christian is non-sacramental, but does that mean that the Catholic spouse can no longer receive Holy Communion?

If you haven’t guessed already, I am involved with a guy who is non-Christian. He also wants to have a Hindu tradition wedding, and I read somewhere that you can get a dispensation for that, but the second wedding would be in the Church. If that’s the case, then can the Catholic spouse still receive Communion?

 

[takers]

A Catholic can still receive communion if they are married to a non-Catholic so long as the marriage is valid (i.e., received dispensation from the Bishop, performed by a Priest or received a dispensation for not being performed by a priest, and is in good standing themselves for receiving communion).

And just because you marry a non-Catholic doesn’t mean your marriage isn’t a sacrament. It’s if the non-Catholic isn’t baptized. So a baptized Catholic and Lutheran can have a sacramental marriage, but a baptized Catholic and a non-baptized Lutheran cannot.

 

[Usige]

New to these forums, so I apologize if this is not posted in the right place. Just a short and simple question: Can a Catholic who marries a non-Christian in the Catholic Church (so in other words, if she gets a dispensation to do so), can she still receive the Holy Eucharist? I realize that a marriage to a non-Christian is non-sacramental, but does that mean that the Catholic spouse can no longer receive Holy Communion?

If you haven’t guessed already, I am involved with a guy who is non-Christian. He also wants to have a Hindu tradition wedding, and I read somewhere that you can get a dispensation for that, but the second wedding would be in the Church. If that’s the case, then can the Catholic spouse still receive Communion?

Leaving aside if it is wise, yes a Catholic that receives a dispensation to marry a non-baptised person may receive the Eucharist. That assumes that you and your future spouse actually enter into a true marriage and all that entails of you as the Catholic party (doing all you can to remain Catholic and raise your children Catholic (not a Catholic-Hindu hybrid)).

One correction though. If you receive a dispensation from canonical form (e.g. permission for a non-Catholic ceremony) you cannot then turn around and have a wedding ceremony in the Church. This is spelled out in canon 1127§3. If you choose to have a Hindu ceremony that is your one and only ceremony. The same if you go the other way. If you have a Church wedding you cannot turn around and have a Hindu ceremony afterwards. It basically comes down to that you excahnge consent (aka vows) and marry once. The ceremony isn’t for show and doesn’t get repeated for effect. It is the same reasons that Catholics should not have wedding vow renewal ceremonies. I know it seems to happen a lot, but the canon law section uses the word “forbidden”. In other words those that do so are going directly against church teaching. Many priest will not allow it (as they shouldn’t) and shopping around to find one that will is duplicitous.

 

[1ke]

New to these forums, so I apologize if this is not posted in the right place. Just a short and simple question: Can a Catholic who marries a non-Christian in the Catholic Church (so in other words, if she gets a dispensation to do so), can she still receive the Holy Eucharist?

If a Catholic follows Church law, then they are validly married. If they validly marry an unbaptized person then they are in a valid, natural marriage. And yes, they are in good standing with the Church and may participate in the sacramental life of the Church.

If you haven’t guessed already, I am involved with a guy who is non-Christian. He also wants to have a Hindu tradition wedding, and I read somewhere that you can get a dispensation for that, but the second wedding would be in the Church.

You have been misinformed.

You may have a Catholic wedding, or you may receive a dispensation to be married outside the Catholic form (which could be performed by anyone with civil, legal authority to perform weddings so it could be Hindu or it could be at city hall or whatever). You cannot have BOTH.

Can.* 1127 §1. The prescripts of ⇒ can. 1108 are to be observed for the form to be used in a mixed marriage.

Nevertheless, if a Catholic party contracts marriage with a non-Catholic party of an Eastern rite, the canonical form of the celebration must be observed for liceity only; for validity, however, the presence of a sacred minister is required and the other requirements of law are to be observed.

§2. If grave diYculties hinder the observance of canonical form, the local ordinary of the Catholic party has the right of dispensing from the form in individual cases, after having consulted the ordinary of the place in which the marriage is celebrated and with some public form of celebration for validity. It is for the conference of bishops to establish norms by which the aforementioned dispensation is to be granted in a uniform manner.

§3. It is forbidden to have another religious celebration of the same marriage to give or renew matrimonial consent before or after the canonical celebration according to the norm of §1. Likewise, there is not to be a religious celebration in which the Catholic who is assisting and a non-Catholic minister together, using their own rites, ask for the consent of the parties.

 

[foreveralone]

To what extent would children be able to participate? I know that he and his family would want any children to be able to learn about Hinduism and to experience the festivals…but would this be permitted? And to what extent? I do not want to do anything wrong, so I suppose it is good to find out sooner rather than later.

 

[1ke]

To what extent would children be able to participate? I know that he and his family would want any children to be able to learn about Hinduism and to experience the festivals…but would this be permitted? And to what extent? I do not want to do anything wrong, so I suppose it is good to find out sooner rather than later.

That will be tough. Catholics are obligated to raise their children Catholic. Teaching them about non-existent Hindu gods and goddesses will confuse them, and how do you teach them about these things without also ensuring the understand this is not what Christians believe?

Catholics can attend non-Christian ceremonies like weddings, funerals, etc, but should not actively participate in pagan rituals.

 

[Usige]

To what extent would children be able to participate? I know that he and his family would want any children to be able to learn about Hinduism and to experience the festivals…but would this be permitted? And to what extent? I do not want to do anything wrong, so I suppose it is good to find out sooner rather than later.

To receive a dispensation to marry a non-Catholic you must agree that you will do everything in your power to raise your children Catholic. If I were doing your marriage prep and there was mention that a couple planned to raise their children in both faith traditions I would have to note it in the paper work that goes to the diocese. That could quite possibly result in a dispensation being withheld.

So you have to think of it in these terms. If you believe that the Catholic Church holds the fullness of faith and then allow your children to also be told that Brahma is the creator of the world and that his son, Manu, is the the father of mankind do you not see how you would be allowing your future husband to tell them lies? Also think of how confused your children would be if half of their family tells them that their is only one true God, but the other talks about Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, and any of a dozen other Gods? How will you explain Holi, Diwali or any of the other festivals that celebrate events in the lives of multiple gods if their is only one true God?

I am not trying to be harsh, but to point out the realities of trying to raise children with conflicting fundamental basis for their faiths. Generally when a child is exposed to 2 faiths traditions and allowed to choose which one they will follow, the majority of kids choose no religion. Since both religions claim to be true then neither could be right.

I was talking to a friend of mine that is Hindu and he brought up another point that might cause issues. In certain Hindu traditions/temples only two Hindus are allow to marry. In those cases you would go through a conversion ceremony and be given a Hindu name. He said it’s not universal, but does happen in some temples so your milage may vary.