What it takes to be married in Catholic Church

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Can anyone tell me whether or not a Catholic may be married to a non-Catholic (either a Christain or non-Christain) in the Catholic Church? Where is this issue declared by the Church? Some priests say “both must be Catholic” others say “just one must but both must agree to raise children Catholic”.

A specific CCC or Canonical Law reference would help!

God Bless,
zrausa
 
My wife and I coordinate the pre-Cana program in our parish and we have seen a number of inter-denominational engagements. Many times over half of the couples taking the course are made up of a Catholic and a non-Catholic. We even had a Catholic-Buddhist couple. The couple needs to get a dispensation from the Archdiocesan office which the marrying official (either priest or deacon) requests as part of the paper work that is filed.
The basic pre-requisites in our Archdiocese (Atlanta) are:

  • *]that the couple attend a wedding preparation course: pre-Cana, Sponsor Couple, Engaged Encounter, Three to Get Married or Remarriage Workshop (for previously married individuals) and take a FOCCUS test to determine areas of weakness. ]that the non-Catholic member agree to raise the children as Catholic]that if either party, having been married previously, had that marriage annuled by the Church

    Other dioceses may be different, but I think this is pretty standard.Talk to your priest/deacon.
    God Bless.
    Hope this helps a little.
 
This is from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Mixed marriages and disparity of cult

1633 In many countries the situation of a mixed marriage (marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic) often arises. It requires particular attention on the part of couples and their pastors. A case of marriage with disparity of cult (between a Catholic and a nonbaptized person) requires even greater circumspection.

1634 Difference of confession between the spouses does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle for marriage, when they succeed in placing in common what they have received from their respective communities, and learn from each other the way in which each lives in fidelity to Christ. But the difficulties of mixed marriages must not be underestimated. They arise from the fact that the separation of Christians has not yet been overcome. The spouses risk experiencing the tragedy of Christian disunity even in the heart of their own home. Disparity of cult can further aggravate these difficulties. Differences about faith and the very notion of marriage, but also different religious mentalities, can become sources of tension in marriage, especially as regards the education of children. The temptation to religious indifference can then arise.

1635 According to the law in force in the Latin Church, a mixed marriage needs for liceity the express permission of ecclesiastical authority.[135] In case of disparity of cult an express dispensation from this impediment is required for the validity of the marriage.[136] This permission or dispensation presupposes that both parties know and do not exclude the essential ends and properties of marriage and the obligations assumed by the Catholic party concerning the baptism and education of the children in the Catholic Church.[137]

1636 Through ecumenical dialogue Christian communities in many regions have been able to put into effect a common pastoral practice for mixed marriages. Its task is to help such couples live out their particular situation in the light of faith, overcome the tensions between the couple’s obligations to each other and towards their ecclesial communities, and encourage the flowering of what is common to them in faith and respect for what separates them.

1637 In marriages with disparity of cult the Catholic spouse has a particular task: “For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband.”[138] It is a great joy for the Christian spouse and for the Church if this “consecration” should lead to the free conversion of the other spouse to the Christian faith.[139] Sincere married love, the humble and patient practice of the family virtues, and perseverance in prayer can prepare the non-believing spouse to accept the grace of conversion.
 
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Mistermerlin:
. . .
B. that the non-Catholic member agree to raise the children as Catholic . . …
In our diocese the Catholic party must promise to remain steadfast in his faith and to raise the children Catholic. The non-Catholic must be aware of these promises, but is not required to join in the promises. It makes some sense to put the burden on the Catholic rather than the non-Catholic.
 
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