Sacrament of Marriage

[Scarecrow]

If one is Catholic and is is married outside of the Church (by judge or non-catholic minister, pastor, etc.) to someone, are they married according to the Catholic Church? Does the Church recognize this marriage??

 

[LilyM]

If one is Catholic and is is married outside of the Church (by judge or non-catholic minister, pastor, etc.) to someone, are they married according to the Catholic Church? Does the Church recognize this marriage??

No and no. For us Catholics only a Catholic priest or deacon can ordinarily validly perform a marriage, which we consider to be a sacrament.

Even in cases where, for example, if the non-Catholic celebrant is a relative of bride or groom. In such situations the best that can be done, always with the permission of the Catholic bishop, is a concelebrated marriage where a Catholic priest will officiate alongside the non-Catholic celebrant.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

If one is Catholic and is is married outside of the Church (by judge or non-catholic minister, pastor, etc.) to someone, are they married according to the Catholic Church? Does the Church recognize this marriage??

The Catholic Church recognizes such a marriage only if a dispensation was given by the Catholic party’s bishop prior to the marriage. With such a dispensation, a Catholic priest does not necessarily need to be present at the ceremony.

 

[puzzleannie]

If one is Catholic and is is married outside of the Church (by judge or non-catholic minister, pastor, etc.) to someone, are they married according to the Catholic Church? Does the Church recognize this marriage??

No. not unless they received a dispensation from their bishop to be married outside a Catholic church or oratory, and have it witnessed by a non-ordained person. This would be highly unusual but possible in some circumstances. If there was no dispensation, the marriage is invalid for lack of form. If there are no other barriers (such as a prior marriage) the marriage merely needs to be convalidated, and the couple can arrange for that with their Catholic pastor. If one partner is non-Catholic there is no requirement that they convert first.

 

[cameron_lansing]

“. . . a concelebrated marriage where a Catholic priest will officiate alongside the non-Catholic celebrant.”

*Only a small something of note on this side issue to avoid confusion.

One and only one person can “officiate” “or preside” at a wedding involving a Catholic. It doesn’t matter whether the Catholic form is observed or it is dispensed.

The Ecumenical Directory (1992) clarifies how the presence of a Catholic priest or deacon might take place in such a case of dispensation though: “With the previous authorization of the local Ordinary, and if invited to do so, a Catholic priest or deacon may attend or participate in some way in the celebration of mixed marriages, in situations where the dispensation from canonical form has been granted. In these cases, there may be only one ceremony in which the presiding person receives the marriage vows. At the invitation of this celebrant, the Catholic priest or deacon may offer other appropriate prayers, read from the Scriptures, give a brief exhortation and bless the couple.” (no. 157)

So even if a Catholic cleric is present in a non Catholic ceremony (and wouldn’t have to be), there is never a true co-officiating in the sense that the Catholic minister and the non Catholic minister both handle the giving of consent by the parties. In fact, that is forbidden (c. 1127 §3).

Instead, when this dispensation is given, a non Catholic minister will conduct the wedding ceremony according to the form of marriage for his or her denominational usage and the requirements of civil law by which consent to marriage is manifested. The Catholic cleric, if present, will not (otherwise you’d basically have the Catholic canonical form, wouldn’t you?).*

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

If one is Catholic and is is married outside of the Church (by judge or non-catholic minister, pastor, etc.) to someone, are they married according to the Catholic Church? Does the Church recognize this marriage??

Most likely not on both counts.

 

[dash67]

Now I am really confused I have researched exhaustively and have been shown on several different sites that my marraige is considered valid by the catholic church. I was a non catholic married to a catholic in a protestant church in 1985 we have 4 children we raised Catholic. When my husband and I were having trouble I was told he would have to get an anulment to remarry and the fact that he was dating someone else was considered adultery. I am now a Catechumen, fi the church doesnt reckognize our marraige then why would he have needed an annulment? Does the Catholic church consider that i am living in sin?

 

[SMHW]

Now I am really confused I have researched exhaustively and have been shown on several different sites that my marraige is considered valid by the catholic church. I was a non catholic married to a catholic in a protestant church in 1985 we have 4 children we raised Catholic. When my husband and I were having trouble I was told he would have to get an anulment to remarry and the fact that he was dating someone else was considered adultery. I am now a Catechumen, fi the church doesnt reckognize our marraige then why would he have needed an annulment? Does the Catholic church consider that i am living in sin?

We can only speculate about your particular case.

The phrase ‘marry outside the Church’ (upper case ‘C’) implies a bit more than outside of a church (lower case ‘c’) building. It means outside of the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church. The Church retains the right to dispense from those rules if there is a good enough reason. It is possible that when you married your husband-to-be obtained the necessary dispensations to marry a non-Catholic someplace other than in a Catholic church or oratory.

The dispensation to marry a non-Catholic is so commonly granted that most Catholics probably don’t know they received one. I wouldn’t be surprised that their are Catholics who don’t realize they had received a dispensation to marry in a non-Catholic ceremony.

 

[1ke]

Now I am really confused I have researched exhaustively and have been shown on several different sites that my marraige is considered valid by the catholic church. I was a non catholic married to a catholic in a protestant church in 1985 we have 4 children we raised Catholic. When my husband and I were having trouble I was told he would have to get an anulment to remarry and the fact that he was dating someone else was considered adultery.

There are not enough facts here. The first step in determining the validity of your marriage is to obtain your husband’s sacramentary records. If he obtained permission to marry outside the Catholic form, your marriage may indeed be valid. You would need to research this with the diocese/parish in which he was a parishioner.

I am now a Catechumen, fi the church doesnt reckognize our marraige then why would he have needed an annulment?

Even if the marriage lacks form, ALL marriages must be examined by the tribunal for validity-- some take longer than others. The marriage is presumed valid until it is declared otherwise through the tribunal process. Lack of form is not complex and takes only a few months. That is if he indeed did not get the proper permissions.

Does the Catholic church consider that i am living in sin?

If you are still married to your husband, I suggest the two of you talk about the situation. Did he contact the Catholic Church prior to your marriage? Did he or his pastor do the paperwork for a dispensation? Is there a record of the marriage?

We can’t answer you here, we don’t know all the facts.

 

[puzzleannie]

Now I am really confused I have researched exhaustively and have been shown on several different sites that my marraige is considered valid by the catholic church. I was a non catholic married to a catholic in a protestant church in 1985 we have 4 children we raised Catholic. When my husband and I were having trouble I was told he would have to get an anulment to remarry and the fact that he was dating someone else was considered adultery. I am now a Catechumen, fi the church doesnt reckognize our marraige then why would he have needed an annulment? Does the Catholic church consider that i am living in sin?

there is no way to get an answer to your specific situation except to explain the entire situation to your pastor and begin the process for an annulment investigation. It is quite possible that your marriage was invalid for lack of form (the Catholic partner married a non-Catholic in a non-Catholic church without the required dispensations, or permissions). It this is true, the process is less involved than an annulment but still must be done so that your current marriage situation can be regularized.

this discussion is beyond the scope of this forum, see your priest

 

[dash67]

Thank you all for answering so promptly and no my Husband did not get any kind of special dispensation, so I suppose our marraige may not be reckognized as valid by the catholic church however I will take your advice and talk to one of the priests of the parish we currently attend. My husband and I are still together we made it through the rocky part and are happier than ever. I guess it wont be the worst thing after I am confirmed to have an actual Catholic ceremony my children can be bridesmaids and groomsman

 

[puzzleannie]

I see I am unclear if your current marriage is your first, forgive me, your chronology was not easy to follow.

If you are living with someone whose freedom to marry is in doubt, that must be resolved before you can receive the sacraments and be received into the Church. If you are living with a Catholic who has married without following Church law which binds him, and if you want to accept yourself the teachings of the Church, this marriage must be regluarized (convalidated) before you can receive the sacraments.

It is vital that one’s marriage situation be discussed with the priest or deacon very early in the RCIA process, so that your needs can be addressed. Don’t let this go, please talk to the priest right away. This will not necessarily slow you down, you can of course continue with the classes and other activities, become more active in the parish, see to your children’s religious education and so forth.

Also, don’t be nervous because it sounds as if the entire thing is less complicated than you might think, especially if there is no previous marriage to be considered. Please, call and make an appointment with the priest. The RCIA director, if not a priest, is not competent to advise you on this. Besides, you and your husband both need pastoral counselling, preparation for confession and care that only the priest can give. We have a wonderful Church, a mother who sees and cares for all the needs of her children. Welcome home.

 

[dash67]

I am sorry it was unclear yes this is the first and only marraige for both my husband and myself we were married in a baptist church in 1985 he was and is a confirmed catholic, and when we were married I agreed to raise our children catholic and I followed through with it thank you for the advice about talking to the rci director and priest I am scheduled to be confirmed on 10-7-07 by the bishop of our diocese and have already invited my family (they are from out of state).

 

[Scarecrow]

wow didnt expect such a response on this thread. glad it can help someone!

 

[LilyM]

I am sorry it was unclear yes this is the first and only marraige for both my husband and myself we were married in a baptist church in 1985 he was and is a confirmed catholic, and when we were married I agreed to raise our children catholic and I followed through with it thank you for the advice about talking to the rci director and priest I am scheduled to be confirmed on 10-7-07 by the bishop of our diocese and have already invited my family (they are from out of state).

You agreed to raise your children Catholic? How did you and your husband find out that this was necessary? Sounds like someone told you the requirements of a valid marriage between Catholic and non-Catholic - possibly that someone obtained a dispensation on your behalf?

 

[dash67]

Actually my husband instisted the children be raised cathoulic but my mother in law is the one who old me that made the marraige valid and gave me a book on the subject sorry to say I never actually read it

 

[LilyM]

Actually my husband instisted the children be raised cathoulic but my mother in law is the one who old me that made the marraige valid and gave me a book on the subject sorry to say I never actually read it

That’s part of what makes a valid Catholic marriage - not all of it.

Talk to your pastor, it’s easy enough to convalidate your marriage if neither of you have been married before, though your husband may need confession beforehand.

 

[dash67]

Actually I went to my RCI class tonight and the leader(a deacon) and his wife were there, they had had the two priest from our parish over for dinner the day I called about this issue and according to them(the priests) since a sacrament is a sacrament and the Catholic church recognizes baptism in other faiths they recognize matrimony as well I still am going to make an appointment with the priest and hear it from the horses mouth so to speak but that is the latest word I get.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Actually I went to my RCI class tonight and the leader(a deacon) and his wife were there, they had had the two priest from our parish over for dinner the day I called about this issue and according to them(the priests) since a sacrament is a sacrament and the Catholic church recognizes baptism in other faiths they recognize matrimony as well I still am going to make an appointment with the priest and hear it from the horses mouth so to speak but that is the latest word I get.

That is correct if you both were non-Catholic at the time of the Marriage and there were no impediments like prior marriages or inability to freely consent, etc. Then the Marriage would be usually accepted as valid and nothing more needs to be done.