"priest" performing interfaith weddings

[social]

I person I know at work has a side job performing interfaith weddings and outdoor, “personalized” etc. weddings and advertises this through a website. I looked at the website and was surprised to see that he claims to be a catholic priest. The website makes statements clearly contradicting church teaching on the sacrament of marriage, such as that they “do not have the rigid conditions and requirements” that some religions impose, and they will marry anyone who pays the fee. Now this person is either not a catholic priest (since he has a full time job where I work) or, if he is (or was and was laicized), I’m sure he should not be performing these weddings with the veneer of the church’s authority.

My question is should I report this person to the archdiocese? I feel that I should, but part of me feels that I am stepping into something that is not my business. I don’t want to cause harm to this person but it offends me that he is doing this. What is my moral obligation here? Also, if I were to report it, to whom would I do so?

 

[Ron_Conte]

You could write a letter to the diocese asking if this man is a Catholic priest; he might be a laicized priest, or a member of some schismatic group that claims to be Catholic.

The claim that he will marry anyone who pays the fee, regardless of the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Faith, is the sin of simony. He is claiming to sell a Sacrament, although these marriages might not be the valid Sacrament.

 

[wisdomseeker]

I person I know at work has a side job performing interfaith weddings and outdoor, “personalized” etc. weddings and advertises this through a website. I looked at the website and was surprised to see that he claims to be a catholic priest. The website makes statements clearly contradicting church teaching on the sacrament of marriage, such as that they “do not have the rigid conditions and requirements” that some religions impose, and they will marry anyone who pays the fee. Now this person is either not a catholic priest (since he has a full time job where I work) or, if he is (or was and was laicized), I’m sure he should not be performing these weddings with the veneer of the church’s authority.

My question is should I report this person to the archdiocese? I feel that I should, but part of me feels that I am stepping into something that is not my business. I don’t want to cause harm to this person but it offends me that he is doing this. What is my moral obligation here? Also, if I were to report it, to whom would I do so?

i think now and days we all have an obligation to protect the Church and the people from the wolves and falsehood. obviously this case seems to be one more work of the devil to undermine and smear the CC all around.

Prayer for the protection of the Church.

O glorious St Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers fo hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august head(BXVI) and all the bishops and priests who are faithfull to the Church, and obtain for them and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.

Santa Maria, pray for us.

 

[lizaanne]

Wow - I would try to shut someone like that down so fast it would make his head spin. How dare he present himself as a Catholic priest and smear the good name of the Church in such a way.

Oh yeah - you better believe I would totally drop a dime on this guy.

~Liza

 

[rpp]

Please notify your bishop right away.

While there are many who claim to be a Catholic priests who actually are not, each of these charlatans should be brought to the attention of the bishop so the diocese knows whether is needs to do anything.

 

[1ke]

Notify the diocese, either the Bishop or the Vicar General. Give them the website address and that this person claims to be a Catholic priest.

They will handle it from there.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

“Rent-a-Priests” are a frequent problem in this area, Southern California. From time to time the diocese issues warnings on some of the biggest problems.

We had to clean up one marriage for Catholic and an RCIA catechumen who were marries by one such on a boat in the bay. He had been a priest in our parish, and they were unaware of his changed status.

One or two of the funeral homes started advertising Catholic funerals at their chapels using such priests. That stopped very abruptly when they were notified that they would be forever barred from participating in a funeral in any Catholic Church if it happened again. [Sometimes a non-theological argument can be very persuasive. ]