To Participate in non-Catholic Weddings

[Rawb]

Two of my sisters will both be getting married soon, one this December and the other next April. One wants me to be an usher, the other told me she plans on having me up as a groomsman. Someone told me back when I was first looking into becoming Catholic (this Easter I’ll be confirmed/first communion) that I would have to get a dispensation to participate in non-Catholic weddings. This forum has shown me how accurate a “soemone-told-me” statement can be, so after I couldn’t find anything online I thought I’d ask. Both marriages will be valid, noone’s been married before.

If I have to get a dispensation, how do I do that, and can I go about it without getting my sisters involved? Thanks.

 

[1ke]

Two of my sisters will both be getting married soon, one this December and the other next April. One wants me to be an usher, the other told me she plans on having me up as a groomsman. Someone told me back when I was first looking into becoming Catholic (this Easter I’ll be confirmed/first communion) that I would have to get a dispensation to participate in non-Catholic weddings. This forum has shown me how accurate a “soemone-told-me” statement can be, so after I couldn’t find anything online I thought I’d ask. Both marriages will be valid, noone’s been married before.

If I have to get a dispensation, how do I do that, and can I go about it without getting my sisters involved? Thanks.

No, you do not need permission of any kind to participate in a non-Catholic wedding (one in which the parties are marrying validly, such as never before married… and you’ve already stated this is the case) as long as it is not in any official liturgical capacity-- like taking communion in a Protestant church, acting as a minister, etc-- and usher and groomsman are not a liturgical capacity.

Whoever told you this was just plain wrong.

You are fine to accpet both of these honors.

 

[Brigadoon]

It is my understanding that prticipating in a wedding between two non-Catholics is not a problem. It becomes an issue when one of the parties is Catholic but is marrying outside the church. I am sure this has been covered on AAA.

 

[Rawb]

Ok, thank you both very much. I thought it seemed a little weird. Thanks again!

 

[Contarini]

Two of my sisters will both be getting married soon, one this December and the other next April. One wants me to be an usher, the other told me she plans on having me up as a groomsman. Someone told me back when I was first looking into becoming Catholic (this Easter I’ll be confirmed/first communion) that I would have to get a dispensation to participate in non-Catholic weddings. This forum has shown me how accurate a “soemone-told-me” statement can be, so after I couldn’t find anything online I thought I’d ask. Both marriages will be valid, noone’s been married before.

If I have to get a dispensation, how do I do that, and can I go about it without getting my sisters involved? Thanks.

One of the groomsmen at my wedding was an extremely traditional and well-informed Catholic (he’s a professor of philosophy at a Catholic university). I asked if he had any problems participating and he said (he has a dry sense of humor) that he didn’t unless the sermon was going to denounce the Pope. . . . which needless to say it didn’t.

Edwin

 

[Joe_Kelley]

JMJ

Many years back, pre-VII, I particpated as usher in the weddings of Protestant classmates and they in my Catholic wedding. No priest ever expressed any doubt on it being proper.

There was at that time an expectation that one would not be a witness at a non-Catholic wedding, and that the witnesses at a Catholic wedding would be Catholic. From what I have read recently that is no longer a problem, if it ever was.

 

[anamchara]

Two of my sisters will both be getting married soon, one this December and the other next April. One wants me to be an usher, the other told me she plans on having me up as a groomsman. Someone told me back when I was first looking into becoming Catholic (this Easter I’ll be confirmed/first communion) that I would have to get a dispensation to participate in non-Catholic weddings. This forum has shown me how accurate a “soemone-told-me” statement can be, so after I couldn’t find anything online I thought I’d ask. Both marriages will be valid, noone’s been married before.

If I have to get a dispensation, how do I do that, and can I go about it without getting my sisters involved? Thanks.

Rawb, I’m just curious as to why you didn’t just ask your priest this? Or maybe the person leading your RICA? I’m really very surprised someone at one time actually told you this. You are more than welcome to be part of a Protestant wedding