Would this marriage be valid?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ArmyofTheImmaculata
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

ArmyofTheImmaculata

Guest
I’m asking this question on behalf two close family members. If a baptised Protestant(Church of Scotland) and a baptised Roman Catholic were married in a non-religious ceremony(also not within a church) would their marriage be considered valid or invalid by the Church?

I’m assuming it would be invalid but I couldn’t find a concise answer.

Thanks and God bless.
 
The Roman Catholic is required to marry according to the rite of the Catholic Church, in order for the marriage to be recognized by the Church.
 
Last edited:
I’m not an expert on marriage, but If the catholic church was to validate a marriage then it would have to be done through church. A non religious ceremony is just that, non religious.
 
Last edited:
This is one of the many reasons that I struggle with my faith being placed in the Catholic church. I dont think God and or Jesus would Judge a Roman Catholic for marrying a Protestant Christian or Vice versa. If they both have a good relationship with God adhere to the 10 commandments and the teachings of Jesus then in the eyes of God why would it not be recognized.
 
Last edited:
It’s not at all about judgement… it’s simply a law (canon law) that protects the parties involved. It is very practical, the man and woman prepare for marriage under the guidance of the church, receive the blessings of the sacrament and there is provision to record that the marriage has taken place before witnesses.

It is a right of a Catholic to be married in the church, whether they value that right is entirely up to them.
 
Last edited:
Chris-Hawkins said:
If they both have a good relationship with God adhere to the 10 commandments and the teachings of Jesus then in the eyes of God why would it not be recognized.
Click to expand...
Rules that encourage members of a group to marry within that group tend to strengthen group cohesion and keep their children in that group. Declaring those ‘out-group’ marriages to be taboo also helps to strengthen group cohesion.

Oh, you mean the religious reason?

It’s God’s will, as pronounced by His Church…
 
The question is to do with whether the marriage is valid or not. The marriage between a Protestant and a Catholic isn’t the problem since they are both baptised Christians, it is whether their marriage is valid because it was a non-religious ceremony and done outside the context of a church setting, although baptised Christians the marriage had nothing to do with God which is why I’m asking whether the Church would see it as valid or invalid.

God bless.
 
But how do you know its Gods will? Where in the Bible does it say you should only marry a Roman Catholic or a protestant. In my eyes keeping out-group marriages taboo only drives a wedge between and pushes christian denominations further apart which is wrong. This is mans law not Gods
 
No, sorry my answer above was responding to the answer given by Chris-Hawkins.

Thank you, God bless.
 
So you’re good to go?

Blessings to you.🙏 Glad to help.
 
Last edited:
First of all, not everything needs to be explicitly stated in the Bible for it to be Christian. However the Church maintains that in order for a marriage to be a Christian marriage it must be between two properly baptised Christians. Otherwise the marriage is secular and therefore not a valid and sacramental Christian marriage. This question is not a debate about the “taboo of our-group marriages” it is regarding the validity of a “marriage” between two baptised Christians.

God bless.
 
Last edited:
Im sorry, I dont mean to sound holier than thou or argumentative. Im simply trying to gain a better understanding for my self. You see I am a catholic but I never really practiced my faith and as I try to return to it I struggle to get past issues like this.
 
Don’t apologise, you’re fine😊 I’m just trying to explain it a bit for you.

I recommend you pray about it, ask God to help you move past the stumbling blocks that you struggle with about the Faith. As a convert I can tell you, coming to Catholicism has been the most freeing thing I have ever done. The rules or regulations are for our safety, God has our best interest in mind. Everything taught by the Catholic Church is based on sacred scripture or tradition of the Church, it is all for our best interests to help us accept the grace of salvation that Jesus Christ has offered us.

God bless.
 
ArmyofTheImmaculata said:
If a baptised Protestant(Church of Scotland) and a baptised Roman Catholic were married in a non-religious ceremony(also not within a church) would their marriage be considered valid or invalid by the Church?

I’m assuming it would be invalid but I couldn’t find a concise answer.
Click to expand...
It’s possible that it’s valid. Catholics are required to follow the normative form of marriage, but it’s possible to request and receive permission to marry outside the normal form (i.e., marriage in a Catholic church building, officiated by a Catholic priest or deacon).

So, unfortunately, given the information you’ve provided, we can’t offer an answer. At best, we can say “it’s possible that it might be considered valid.”
 
Thank you,
but I don’t understand how a marriage could be considered valid if God had no part in it since it was a non-religious service and had no mention of God, or anything to do with his covenant or the Church.

God bless.
 
Chris-Hawkins said:
I dont think God and or Jesus would Judge a Roman Catholic for marrying a Protestant Christian or Vice versa.
Click to expand...
Neither does the Catholic Church.
If they both have a good relationship with God adhere to the 10 commandments and the teachings of Jesus then in the eyes of God why would it not be recognized.
Click to expand...
OK. So, what you’re saying is that there are standards that must be followed. Good.

What standards are reasonable, then?

Are standards set by the Church – that is, by the Church that Jesus founded, and to whom He gave authority – are the standards set by the Church reasonable to ask to be followed?

And, if the Church sets standards for the sacraments, should we follow them?

You see, the issue isn’t whether Catholics and Protestants can marry. After all, they can. The question is whether Catholics should follow the standards set by the Church as they approach marriage…
 
ArmyofTheImmaculata said:
Thank you,
but I don’t understand how a marriage could be considered valid if God had no part in it since it was a non-religious service and had no mention of God, or anything to do with his covenant or the Church.

God bless.
Click to expand...
Because the Catholic Church doesn’t only recognize marriages that occur in churches and that involve God in some way. As long as there were no impediments (like a previous marriage for one or both) the Church also considers valid the marriage of two atheists who marry with the intent of being faithful, being open to having children, and being married until the death of one of the parties even though they marry at city hall in front of a justice of the peace.
 
Chris-Hawkins said:
This is one of the many reasons that I struggle with my faith being placed in the Catholic church. I dont think God and or Jesus would Judge a Roman Catholic for marrying a Protestant Christian or Vice versa. If they both have a good relationship with God adhere to the 10 commandments and the teachings of Jesus then in the eyes of God why would it not be recognized
Click to expand...
But to Catholics the teaching of the Church is the teaching of Jesus.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top