Question regarding marriage.

[ErricFiggy]

Long story short, today in class, my teacher was telling us how marriage isn’t valid if the Catholic church or whichever church for that matter recognizes it, it’s only valid if the state recognizes it. It’s only valid when they sign the certificate. She the went on to say “you have mommy and daddy here and there okay because they have a marriage certificate, here’s another mommy and daddy and they don’t have a certificate so their going to Hell” I felt that what she said wasn’t right, but the words didn’t come to me then. I still don’t know what to respond is she right?

 

[UnlikelyHomeDad]

You or s/he got something wrong in translation. Either that or s/he has no idea what she’s talking about.

The Church does require you to obtain a license as per civil law. The Church won’t recognize a marriage outside of the proper form. Say, for example, though unlikely today, a priest presides over a Marriage cerimony and there is no proper civil license to marry, until the couple obtain the proper civil paperwork the Church won’t recognize the marriage as valid. Now would the cerimony be “done over?” I don’t know. Good question for someone that knows.

And as far as saying a couple is going to hell, that’s a white flag, foul play. S/he is off base saying such a thing. Only God knows the answer to that since he has knowledge of their hearts and knowledge of truth. If one lives together without procuring license or properly “blessing” through convalidation knowing it’s wrong will or might be held culpable depending on criteria outside the boundaries of man. Only God can be the judge of that, not man. However, it is prudent to follow Church teaching, provided one knows it.

Interesting post.

 

[hizstory]

It seems to me that this teacher was expressing her own hostility to Christianity. It is true that in the United States the Church requires civil approval before a priest will preform a wedding. However, once the wedding has taken place and the couple “divorces” civilly, the Church may not recognize the civil status and in the Church’s eyes the marriage is still ongoing.

If your teacher makes a similar comment, I would let your parents know (if you are a minor) and possibly the principal. Or you could just ignore her. Being a smart butt, I’d probably have retorted “I’ll pray for your soul” or “I’m sorry you believe that way.”