Why do Roman Catholic priests sometimes celebrate civil weddings?

[ColeenT]

Hi everybody,

If the civil wedding is not recognized by the Roman Catholics as a religious, “legal” or appropriate ceremony, why do some Roman Catholic priests actually officiate in this kind of ceremonies?

I want to celebrate a civil wedding first to expedite our legal situation, etc. and we have plans to celebrate a religious wedding later (maybe in 6 months or more?), but it seems like the Church does not approve this, is this correct? However, some Roman Catholic Priests celebrate these weddings? I’m so confused…

Thanks,

Coleen

 

[armywife]

I’ve never heard of a Roman Catholic priest celebrating a civil ceremony. In fact I think that would be an oxymoron let along very wrong. Where have you heard or seen this being done?

My hubby and I were in the same place as you when we were engaged. Since he was deploying before our wedding, he thought we could just do the legal stuff for the Army sake. Our priest said absolutely not and that if it were that important then he’d just marry us in his office. We decided the extra deployment money wasn’t that impt and waited.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

You’re not the only confused one. . .respectfully, where have you seen Roman Catholic priests ‘sometimes’ celebrating civil weddings?

The only thing that I can possibly imagine is that you may have seen a ‘laicized’ priest illicitly offering his services. This is a grave wrong on such a person’s part, to represent oneself as a Catholic priest and to perform actions as such.

I would recommend that you contact your diocesean bishop, especially if this event took place in your diocese, and ask him if Catholic priests can celebrate civil weddings. . .I’m sure he’ll say the same as I but it’s best for you to see it officially rather than from a semi-anonymous poster!!

And yes, you should have the ‘religious’ ceremony and not a ‘civil’ ceremony first and then a religious one later. . .not even for ‘conveniences’ sake. And may God bless you and your intended spouse in your marriage and throughout your life.

 

[Phemie]

I wonder if the OP is confused because in some countries the ceremony witnessed by the priest is both a religious and a legal ceremony because the priest is acting as a representative of both the Church & the State while in other countries his role is Religious only.

 

[SMHW]

It is also possible that the OP has witnessed a priest who is operating as a chaplain for the military or some other organization. I believe such priests occasionally officiate at weddings for non-Catholics.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I wonder if the OP is confused because in some countries the ceremony witnessed by the priest is both a religious and a legal ceremony because the priest is acting as a representative of both the Church & the State while in other countries his role is Religious only.

As in the USA.

 

[puzzleannie]

if you live in the US where clergy, including priest, are also legal witnesses and officiants in civil law, the priest is always obviously the witness in civil law, as well as in Catholic canon law. I never heard of a Catholic priest officiating at the civil marriage of two non-Catholics, and it certainly would be illicit to do so for Catholics where it was not otherwise in accord for canon law. The only exception I can think of off the top of my head would be a military chaplain who by necessity must serve all where he is stationed, if there is no one else competent and with authority.

 

[benedictgal]

In the United States, as puzzleannie and bpbasilphx have pointed out, the priest is both the religious and civil officiant of a wedding.

Case in point: several years ago, we had a wedding at the Cathedral between two people, one of whom, I believe, was from Mexico. The Mexican party, it seems, did not believe that the rector had the authority to sign the civil license so he had a state district judge wait for the couple after the wedding. When the rector found out (he was already upset at the bride for being 45 minutes late), he sent me to the hotel (which is across the street) to get the license. As the judge was a friend of mine, he told me that he completely understood and was trying to get the party to understand that the rector was just as legitimate as a judge in the United States.

If I were the OP, I would just as soon wait and have the Chuch wedding. God, in His great mercy, will take care of both of you.

 

[mystified]

I can’t lay hands on it right now, but I have read that Presidnet Andrew Jackson and his wife, niether Catholic, wanted a minister to witness their marriage, and in their frontier area, the only minister available was a Catholic priest, who did conduct a civil ceremony. Admittedly, this situation probably no longer exists in the US
On the other hand, I am aware that within the past couple of years, a divorced non-Catholic who had been married in her Protestant church previously, married a Catholic in a monastery chapel, and were given an Abbatial Blessing following the ceremony. Don’t have the details, ad neither party will discuss it since it ended in divorce within a year.

 

[1ke]

If the civil wedding is not recognized by the Roman Catholics as a religious, “legal” or appropriate ceremony,

For non-Catholics who have no required form in their own faith tradition, a civil wedding certainly is recognized by the Catholic Church as legal, valid, and appropriate. If the two persons are baptized, it is also a Sacrament.

why do some Roman Catholic priests actually officiate in this kind of ceremonies?

You will have to give a concrete example of such a scenario. What you are describing does not make sense.

I want to celebrate a civil wedding first to expedite our legal situation, etc. and we have plans to celebrate a religious wedding later (maybe in 6 months or more?), but it seems like the Church does not approve this, is this correct?

Yes. This is a violation of Church law and is a sin.

However, some Roman Catholic Priests celebrate these weddings? I’m so confused…

Coleen, yes, confused is the right word. We have no idea what you are talking about. Can you elaborate?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .I never heard of a Catholic priest officiating at the civil marriage of two non-Catholics, and it certainly would be illicit to do so for Catholics where it was not otherwise in accord for canon law. . . .

I recall reading a couple of years ago of a high state official, non-Catholic, was married to a non-Catholic by the bishop in the Cathedral, I think it was in one of the southern states. The diocesan spokesperson sputtered a lot of words, but I never saw an answer that I thought satisfactory.

 

[Phemie]

I recall reading a couple of years ago of a high state official, non-Catholic, was married to a non-Catholic by the bishop in the Cathedral, I think it was in one of the southern states. The diocesan spokesperson sputtered a lot of words, but I never saw an answer that I thought satisfactory.

Well, when it comes right down to it, since they are licensed by the State to perform marriages would there be anything wrong with their witnessing the marriage of two non-Catholics who were not under any impediment?

 

[Aramis]

Well, when it comes right down to it, since they are licensed by the State to perform marriages would there be anything wrong with their witnessing the marriage of two non-Catholics who were not under any impediment?

From the Code of Canon Law:
Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.

§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.

§4. If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.

§5. For the cases mentioned in §§2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to issue general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2T.HTM

In this context, the Christian Faithful is those of the Catholic Church alone, in all 23 sui iuris churches in union with the pope.

 

[puzzleannie]

Coleen has not returned so I surmise she has never witnessed this and has no basis for her question.

 

[ColeenT]

Thanks, everybody, and sorry for the confusion.

I actually found this information on the Internet… I could not remember how I came across his info, but then I tried to look for him again, contacted him and… it turns out that actually he is an Orthodox Catholic priest (although he did not mention that on the site where I found the info).

Now it makes sense…

Thanks so much,

C.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Thanks, everybody, and sorry for the confusion.

I actually found this information on the Internet… I could not remember how I came across his info, but then I tried to look for him again, contacted him and… it turns out that actually he is an Orthodox Catholic priest (although he did not mention that on the site where I found the info).

Now it makes sense…

Thanks so much,

C.

I think Orthodox Catholic has no relation to the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Some organization with a name like that was preying on Hispanic immigrants in this area, offering quicky confirmations and quincineras [sp?].

 

[mystified]

I think Orthodox Catholic has no relation to the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Some organization with a name like that was preying on Hispanic immigrants in this area, offering quicky confirmations and quincineras [sp?].

Quinceñera.

There are a lot of vagante priests, sedevacantes, and internet-ordained “priests” operating as “Guadalupe Wedding Chapels”, “ecumenical Catholic churches”,even conducting “masses”, “first communions”, etc., in garages, parks and other locations, preying upon Hispanic immigrants and others as well.

 

[06convert]

You can increase your legal status, but you must still live as though you are not married until you actually fullfill the sacrament. You must also not consider yourself married until you fullfill the sacrament.

I suppose a priest could technically do this, but it’s strange that he would and strange that his Bishop would approve of such a thing.

 

[Sarabande]

The OP may also have heard about these “rent-a-priests”. On the secular wedding forums, I used to hear a lot about them from brides who wanted to get married in an outdoor wedding or at the reception site even though they were Catholic. They wouldn’t be able to get permission from their diocese, but go on-line and find a “rent-a-priest” who claim they can marry them outside of a church. None of these priests have the permission to do this.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Quinceñera.
. .

Thanks - Joe