Should we go to my brother's wedding outside the church?

[SStatsick]

My brother is getting married in July to a woman who was married in the Catholic Church and now divorced. She never received an annulment. They aren’t going to be married in a Catholic Church or any church. They don’t go to church on Sundays and from what I described above, you can see that the Sacrament of Matrimony within the Church isn’t important to them. I feel I need to point out the importance of going about this the right way, according to church teaching, regardless of the tension it will create. What if they have children and their marriage isn’t valid? What about them going to church and receiving communion? Should my family go to the wedding?

Thank you - Steve

 

[Reginald_Plum]

S,

These links should be helpful for deciding if you want to go to your brother’s civil ceremony. I also included some information you might want to lovingly share with him should the opportunities arise. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please contact Catholic Answers directly.

Recommended Reading:
What do I do when my daughter plans to re-marry before annulment?
Should I attend a civil marriage between two Catholics?
Can I attend the civil wedding of two baptized Catholics?
What are the rules for attending weddings?
Why doesn’t the Church forbid Catholic attendance at invalid marriages?

May a couple start pre-Cana before an annulment is granted?
Can I date a man who is waiting for an annulment?
Why can’t I be forgiven for marrying my first husband?

What are options when my non-Catholic fiance doesn’t want to seek annulment?
I married a divorced man. What about Communion?
Husband won’t get annulment from his first wife. Is there anything I can do?