Can two non-Catholics marry in a Catholic church?

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My boyfriend and i are talking about getting married sometime soon. I have found a beautiful Catholic church that would be perfect for the ceremony but neither of us are Catholic. We both have the utmost respect for the religion and the Church and would be honored to have our wedding in this Catholic church. Is it allowed for a non-catholic couple to marry in the Catholic church?

-- (soxxymomma@aol.com), June 22, 2004

Answers

Response to Can two non-catholics marry in a Catholic church?

hmmnn... who is saying the wedding?

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 22, 2004.

Response to Can two non-catholics marry in a Catholic church?

thats what im asking...i want to know any regulations and restrictions. Im not sure how it would happen yet.

-- (soxxymomma@aol.com), June 22, 2004.

Response to Can two non-catholics marry in a Catholic church?

Offhand, I would say no, simply because it can be difficult for even Catholics to be married in a parish other than than the one either party is registered in....

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), June 22, 2004.

Response to Can two non-catholics marry in a Catholic church?

No, it is not possible for two non-Catholics to marry in a Catholic Church. Marriage in the Catholic Church is far more than a ceremony. It is a Sacrament, a sacred channel of grace instituted by God. A Catholic priest cannot officiate at the marriage of two non-Catholics, and a Catholic Church cannot be used for non-Catholic ceremonies conducted by non-Catholic clergy.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), June 22, 2004.

well thank you Paul for making my wedding sound like an inferior event compared to a Catholic marriage. My wedding and my commitment will be a sacred one and whether it was intentional or not you have made it sound like a non-catholic marriage is worthless.

-- (soxxymomma@aol.com), June 23, 2004.


I am sorry that Paul's statement offended you. I do not think he intended it to be offensive, and please do not hold that against Catholics. The Catholic Church considers marriage to be a sacred institution established by God, so the Catholic Church states that it would be wrong for a priest to perform your ceremony since neither of you are under the authority of the Catholic Church.

Your marriage still involves a commitment and it is still sacred, and the Catholic Church acknowledges that. However, the Church cannot permit you to marry within her if you do not submit to her authority. If one or both of you wishes to convert to Catholic, then that would be fine to have a Catholic marriage. In fact, it would be required. However, conversion is not for the purpose of a ceremony, but a matter of what one truly believes. Please only convert to any religion if you truly believe it to be the Truth.

May God bless you and your marriage.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), June 23, 2004.


Let me differentiate between two possible questions here.

1. Can two non-Catholics get married in THE Catholic Church (meaning by a priest using the Catholic sacramental ritual)? No.

2. Can two non-Catholics get married in A Catholic Church (meaning can they rent the church building to have their marriage done)? Possibly. Each Diocese has norms for such things. Contact the pastor of the parish or the local Diocese to see if this is possible.

-- Fr. Mike Skrocki, JCD (cand.) (abounamike@aol.com), June 25, 2004.


An answer for Paul...

Yes Church buildings can, and often are, used by non-Catholics for their ritual celebrations. Check out the ecumenical norms.

-- Fr. Mike Skrocki, JCD (cand) (abounamike@aol.com), June 25, 2004.


Yes, a Baptist group recently used a Catholic Church as the setting for a concert. However, does that extend to non-Catholic worship services and non-Catholic sacramental rituals?

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), June 25, 2004.

Well, have there been instances of Catholic congregations using other Christian denominations' church buildings for worship, say while a church is being built?

One of the large mega-churches in our area is meeting at the local high school in the gym, but that is probably for sheer size reasons.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), June 25, 2004.



Yes, when our old church was condemned (or more precisely required a couple of million dollars work to ensure that the roof didn't collapse), the church was sold, and we set about converting the parish school auditorium into our new church. While that project was in progress, we celebrated Mass in the school gym. Canon Law allows for such situations ...

Can. 932 §1 The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place, unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in which case the celebration must be in a fitting place.

also ...

Can. 933 For a good reason, with the express permission of the local Ordinary and provided scandal has been eliminated, a priest may celebrate the Eucharist in a place of worship of any Church or ecclesial community which is not in full communion with the catholic Church.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), June 25, 2004.


Paul,

Yes, non-Catholic sacramental rituals, can occur. For instance I know of Orthodox communities (and Anglicans) using Catholic Churches while their community looks for / builds a church. Obviously, there would be groups we would not allow to use our facilities.

Hope that's helpful

-- Fr. Mike Skrocki, JCD (cand) (abounamike@aol.com), June 25, 2004.


Yes!

And check out this shameful disgrace.

http://www.oltyn.com/HindMay5.htm

-- Hugh (hugh@inspired.com), July 01, 2004.


bump

-- bump (bump@bump.com), July 03, 2004.

The word sacrilege is more fitting. Heaven help us.

-- Faith (fgcc4@yahoo.com), July 03, 2004.


Qhat I find so appauling is this.

If they want to worship at a Christain Shrine, Chruch, or other sacredd spot, it is seen as an ONBLIGAITON on the part fo the Christaisn to allow this service to happen, lest Christaisn show how Intolerent they are.

So while Christainity is margianilised accross the western world, we are bascaly expected to accept all religiosu belifs.

However, if a Christain group wanted to pray o conduct a religiosu service in a Hindu Temple, lets say, a Catholic fgroup wanted ot hold a Mass and then celebrate the one true God they worship, I wager this wodl not be allowed. After all, it woudl desecrate the Hindu Remple and defile it...

Beleive me, I have seen things like that, Christaisn are expected ot roll over and accept other faiths, but no one is expected ot out up with mere Christains...

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), July 04, 2004.


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