weddings

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Is it always a sin for a catholic to witness a wedding of a catholic whom is not getting married with a catholic cerimony, unless the couple has a dispensation from the local Bishop?
 
Personally, I believe that you should get married in a Church, but, I believe if your marriage is witnessed and blessed by a priest, it is valid. So, to the question of witnessing an unvalid marriage.
1621 In the Latin Rite the celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place during Holy Mass, because of the connection of all the sacraments with the Paschal mystery of Christ.120 In the Eucharist the memorial of the New Covenant is realized, the New Covenant in which Christ has united himself for ever to the Church, his beloved bride for whom he gave himself up.121 It is therefore fitting that the spouses should seal their consent to give themselves to each other through the offering of their own lives by uniting it to the offering of Christ for his Church made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice, and by receiving the Eucharist so that, communicating in the same Body and the same Blood of Christ, they may form but “one body” in Christ.122 (1323, 1368)
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1624 The various liturgies abound in prayers of blessing and epiclesis asking God’s grace and blessing on the new couple, especially the bride. In the epiclesis of this sacrament the spouses receive the Holy Spirit as the communion of love of Christ and the Church.126 The Holy Spirit is the seal of their covenant, the ever-available source of their love and the strength to renew their fidelity. (736)
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So, I would think it is not a sin to be present at the ceremony, the sin, I guess lies with the individuals getting married.
 
TBuck said:
Is it always a sin for a catholic to witness a wedding of a catholic whom is not getting married with a catholic cerimony, unless the couple has a dispensation from the local Bishop?
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The Church doesn’t expressly forbid us from attending weddings of Catholics who are marrying in an irregular and likely illicit fashion. This is mainly because there could be many problems generated in doing this, such as alienation of children or close friends.

That said, the Church would ask us to use prudential judgement in attending such irregular weddings since your attendance shows a tacit approval in recognizing a marriage of one or more Catholics that will not be recognized by the Church, which emphasizes the potential scandal. Thus, there could be a moral element (although not a sin) that you should resolve before the wedding, if it is in your social place to advise or caution your friend. The closer the friendship, the greater your obligation might be.

Same is true with so-called same-sex weddings in that they are patently invalid to the Church and should not be attended by any Catholic, but your closeness to the friends in that ceremony may require you to make some act of appreciation of your friendship but not necessarily of his/her union, even to attending if your conscience and Church teachings allow.
 
I wasnt looking for what people think i wanted the official answer. I have heard from some church sources both that someone could and could not.
 
By “witness,” do you mean to observe, or to serve as the best man or maid of honor? That might make a difference. If you are merely an observer, I don’t see the sin in that. If you are right up front, affirming and validating the marriage, then we need to examine it more closely… but, sorry, I do not know enough about such matters to advise you on that.
 
TBuck said:
I wasnt looking for what people think i wanted the official answer. I have heard from some church sources both that someone could and could not.
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There is no official you can or you can’t answer. Its a matter of prudence. The problem on one hand being causing scandal and the problem on the other alienating friends and family and making them bitter against the Church.
 
I have heard it is a mortal sin to attend such a wedding even if it were a family member.And i also have heard if the person renounced the faith and formaly joined another that u could attend. both are supposed to be official church positions.I was hoping someone from the catholic answers staff would be able to answer this question.
 
TBuck said:
I have heard it is a mortal sin to attend such a wedding even if it were a family member.And i also have heard if the person renounced the faith and formaly joined another that u could attend. both are supposed to be official church positions.I was hoping someone from the catholic answers staff would be able to answer this question.
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You should check this out then.

forums.catholic-questions.org/search.php?searchid=14607972

This question has been asked and answered by the apologists multiple times
 
TBuck said:
That link dosent go to a active site.
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Are you sure? It just worked for me. If you can’t get it to work just go into the “Ask an Apologist” Section, click on “Search this Forum” and type in “attending wedding”. You will find plenty of responses by apologists here to this question. They agree that there is no official Church position.
 
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