We will be getting our marriage convalidated soon. What is the requirement for the witnesses? Are both of them required to be Catholic? I would like a friend of mine to be a witness but she is not a Catholic.

Please help.

-- Newbie (newtothis@rcia.org), March 02, 2002

Answers

Response to Convalidationof Marriage

Jmj

Hello, Newbie.
I don't believe that either witness is required to be Catholic. I think that they just need to be willing to sign documents and testify as to what they saw and heard at the wedding ceremony.
Here is what the Code of Canon Law has to say:
"Canon 1108 §1 -- Only those marriages are valid which are contracted in the presence of the local Ordinary [bishop] or parish priest or of the priest or deacon delegated by either of them, who, in the presence of two witnesses, assists, in accordance however with the rules set out in the following canons, and without prejudice to the exceptions mentioned in canon 144, 1112 §1, 1116 and 1127 §2­3."

(The canons mentioned at the end have to do with the minister who will be present. They don't have to do with the characteristics of the witnesses.)

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.