Protestant to Catholic marriages

[Goblin_Taters]

I’m not extremely knowledgeable of the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings on the sacrament of marriage in relation to non-Catholic Christian marriages. Are Protestant Christian marriages sacramental? And if not, what is the character of these marriages? Are Protestant Christian marriages even marriages at all?

Basically I know someone who was raised Protestant and married in the Lutheran church. However, she soon “divorced” him and later married a Catholic (and entered the Catholic Church as well). I’ve been told that in order to marry a Catholic, she first had to obtain an annulment for the first “marriage.” I believe that she did do this, although I’m not for certain.

I understand that if she received an annulment there was canonically-speaking no marriage in the first place. But this said, it seems odd that one would need an annulment for a “marriage” if perchance that “marriage” were not truly sacramental in the first place. If it were not sacramental, then how can an annulment (which I imagine applies to the presence of a sacramental marriage) apply to this “marriage”?

Also, how might one justify the annulment of a former non-Christian marriage when it’s relatively clear that there were no real impediments and that some marriage was effected, albeit a Protestant one?

Lutheranism holds that marriage is not a sacrament. Does the Roman Catholic Church nontheless hold that, despite this lack of belief in the sacramentality of marriage, a sacramental marriage nontheless is brought into existence, even in Christian churches that don’t hold to this?

 

[1ke]

I’m not extremely knowledgeable of the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings on the sacrament of marriage in relation to non-Catholic Christian marriages. Are Protestant Christian marriages sacramental? And if not, what is the character of these marriages? Are Protestant Christian marriages even marriages at all?

A marriage between two baptized persons is valid and sacramental. This presumes they were free to marry-- no prior marriage bond for example.

So, two never-before-married or widow/widower Christians would contract a valid and sacramental marriage.

I’ve been told that in order to marry a Catholic, she first had to obtain an annulment for the first “marriage.” I believe that she did do this, although I’m not for certain.

Yes, that is correct. Her prior marriage would have been examined by the Tribunal to determine her freedom to marry.

But this said, it seems odd that one would need an annulment for a “marriage” if perchance that “marriage” were not truly sacramental in the first place. If it were not sacramental, then how can an annulment (which I imagine applies to the presence of a sacramental marriage) apply to this “marriage”?

Well, we’ve cleared that up. The Church does recognize protestant marriages as both valid and sacramental.

Also, how might one justify the annulment of a former non-Christian marriage when it’s relatively clear that there were no real impediments and that some marriage was effected, albeit a Protestant one?

The impediments to a valid marriage are listed in Canon Law. And, despite “appearances” clearly there was an impediment or the Tribunal would have delcared the prior marriage to be valid.

Lutheranism holds that marriage is not a sacrament. Does the Roman Catholic Church nontheless hold that, despite this lack of belief in the sacramentality of marriage, a sacramental marriage nontheless is brought into existence, even in Christian churches that don’t hold to this?

Yes. This is because the bride and groom are the minister of the Sacrament, not the priest.

The Catholic Church also accepts Protestant baptisms for this same reason-- a priest is not necessary to adminster this sacrament, anyone may baptize.

 

[tonyg]

In order for a Catholic to marry a Protestant in the church, the Protestant must also agree that the children in the marriage are to be raised in the Catholic faith. I am married to a Protestant, her mother and father were baptized Catholics whp left the faith before she was born, she was baptized as a Protestant. We could not have been married in the Catholic Church unless the children were raised Catholic.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m not extremely knowledgeable of the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings on the sacrament of marriage in relation to non-Catholic Christian marriages. Are Protestant Christian marriages sacramental? And if not, what is the character of these marriages? Are Protestant Christian marriages even marriages at all?

Basically I know someone who was raised Protestant and married in the Lutheran church. However, she soon “divorced” him and later married a Catholic (and entered the Catholic Church as well). I’ve been told that in order to marry a Catholic, she first had to obtain an annulment for the first “marriage.” I believe that she did do this, although I’m not for certain.

I understand that if she received an annulment there was canonically-speaking no marriage in the first place. But this said, it seems odd that one would need an annulment for a “marriage” if perchance that “marriage” were not truly sacramental in the first place. If it were not sacramental, then how can an annulment (which I imagine applies to the presence of a sacramental marriage) apply to this “marriage”?

Also, how might one justify the annulment of a former non-Christian marriage when it’s relatively clear that there were no real impediments and that some marriage was effected, albeit a Protestant one?

Lutheranism holds that marriage is not a sacrament. Does the Roman Catholic Church nontheless hold that, despite this lack of belief in the sacramentality of marriage, a sacramental marriage nontheless is brought into existence, even in Christian churches that don’t hold to this?

Any valid Marriage between a validly Baptized people male and a validly Baptized female is always a Sacrament.

 

[1ke]

In order for a Catholic to marry a Protestant in the church, the Protestant must also agree that the children in the marriage are to be raised in the Catholic faith.

This is inaccurate under today’s Canon Law. The Catholic is the only one who makes the promise to do all they can to raise their children Catholic. The non-Catholic is only informed of the promise, they make no promis themselves.

 

[otjm]

In order for a Catholic to marry a Protestant in the church, the Protestant must also agree that the children in the marriage are to be raised in the Catholic faith. I am married to a Protestant, her mother and father were baptized Catholics whp left the faith before she was born, she was baptized as a Protestant. We could not have been married in the Catholic Church unless the children were raised Catholic.

Um, I believe that is incorrect; now the Catholic spouse is required to promise to do all in their power to bring children up Catholic. The non-Catholic spouse is not required to promise to do so anymore.