Junior Rasmussen
The Catholic Church has specific requirements for a marriage to be considered valid. A Catholic wedding ceremony is required for the marriage to be considered valid by the Church. This ceremony can take place in a Catholic Church or a non-Catholic church with the permission of the Bishop. If a Catholic marries a non-Catholic Christian, the marriage is considered a mixed marriage and permission must be obtained from the Bishop. If a Catholic marries a non-baptized person, a dispensation from disparity of cult is required. In all cases, the Catholic party must inform the non-Catholic spouse of their intention to raise any children as Catholics. The marriage contract is a commitment until death do us part, and the spouses must freely exchange their consent to be faithful and open to having children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic wedding requirements | A Catholic wedding ordinarily requires a Catholic ceremony for the marriage to be valid. |
| Catholic marrying a non-Catholic | A Catholic marrying a non-Catholic Christian is considered a "mixed marriage" and requires permission from a bishop, which can be obtained via the parish priest. |
| Catholic wedding in a non-Catholic setting | A Catholic wedding in a non-Catholic setting requires dispensation from the bishop. The marriage must still be recorded in the Catholic parish. |
| Non-canonical form marriage of a Catholic | A Catholic marrying in a non-canonical form may be considered potentially valid but with serious reservations about attending. |
| Impediments to Catholic marriage | Impediments to a Catholic marriage include impotence, consanguinity, affinity, disparity of cult, and crimen. |
| Minimum age for Catholic marriage | The minimum age for a valid Catholic marriage is 14 for women and 16 for men. |
| Same-sex marriage | The Catholic Church opposes the introduction of both civil and religious same-sex marriage. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics marrying non-Catholics
Catholics are permitted to marry non-Catholics, but it is not encouraged by the Church. If a Catholic wishes to marry a non-Catholic Christian, they must receive permission from a "competent authority", usually the Catholic party's local ordinary. If a Catholic wishes to marry a non-baptized non-Christian, the marriage is not considered sacramental. In both cases, the Catholic party must agree to remove dangers of defecting from the faith and to raise any children in the Catholic Church. The non-Catholic party must be made aware of this undertaking.
A Catholic marrying a non-Catholic is called a "mixed marriage". If the marriage is between a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian, it is a sacramental marriage. If the marriage is between a Catholic and a non-baptized non-Christian, it is a non-sacramental marriage. In either case, the wedding must happen in a Catholic parish, witnessed by a Catholic priest or deacon, and using the Catholic ritual, unless the bishop gives special permission to use a different location, minister, or ritual (another dispensation). The Catholic party must inform the non-Catholic spouse of their intention to raise the children as Catholics.
If a Catholic wishes to marry a non-Catholic in a non-Catholic ceremony, they must obtain a dispensation from their bishop to not have a Catholic wedding. If the dispensation is granted, the marriage can take place but still needs to be recorded in the Catholic parish. Catholics may attend the wedding of a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic in a non-Catholic church, but if there is a communion service at the ceremony, Catholics may not receive communion.
While the Church does not explicitly address the question of whether or not to attend a wedding that will not result in a valid marriage, it does address words and attitudes that encourage and confirm others in objectively wrong behavior. The Catechism states that "every word or attitude is forbidden which by flattery, adulation, or complaisance encourages and confirms another in malicious acts and perverse conduct".
Dating a non-Catholic is allowed, but it is worth considering whether one would be willing to marry this person as they are, with your religious differences. If one is not willing to marry a non-Catholic, the relationship will either have to end or the non-Catholic partner will have to convert.
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Catholic wedding requirements
For Catholics, marriage is a sacrament and a liturgical act. As such, there are certain requirements that must be met for a wedding to be considered valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Firstly, it is important to note that the Catholic Church only recognizes marriages between a man and a woman, and it opposes both civil and religious same-sex marriage.
If both parties are Catholic, the wedding must ordinarily take place within a Catholic Church. If one party is Catholic and the other is a non-Catholic Christian, the wedding can be held in a Catholic or a non-Catholic church with the permission of the Bishop or ordinary. In the case of a non-Catholic church, the Catholic party must obtain dispensation from their Bishop. Additionally, the Catholic party must inform their spouse-to-be of their intention to raise any children from the marriage as Catholics.
The Code of Canon Law states that for a Catholic wedding to be valid, it must be contracted before the local bishop, pastor, priest, or deacon, and at least two witnesses. The priest or deacon has the power to marry the couple legally and sacramentally, so there is no need for a separate civil ceremony. The marriage ceremony must take place within a "sacred space", which can include a church or another religious venue.
While there is no requirement for a Mass to be held during the wedding ceremony, some parishes may mandate this. The couple may also choose to have a Liturgy of the Word service instead of a Mass to include any non-Catholic spouses or guests. The wedding can be simple, with just the necessary parties present, or it can include cultural practices such as bridesmaids, groomsmen, and a reception.
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Catholic civil marriages
The Catholic Church requires that all marriages between two Catholics take place in a Catholic church. This is because the Church does not recognise civil marriages as valid. If a Catholic marries someone who is not Catholic, the wedding can take place in a non-Catholic church, but only with the permission of the Catholic's bishop. In this case, the marriage is still recorded in the Catholic parish.
If a Catholic marries a non-Catholic in a civil ceremony, the Catholic Church does not consider the marriage valid. In this case, the couple is invited to participate in a ceremony to bless their marriage. This is called convalidation, and it is a means by which a marriage celebrated outside the Catholic Church is recognised as valid in the Catholic Church. The couple will participate in a marriage preparation program, the content of which varies depending on the couple's circumstances. If there was a previous marriage, an annulment may be required, along with a copy of the civil marriage license and the Sacramental records of both spouses.
The Catholic Church requires that all marriages be between one man and one woman, and that each partner consents freely and willingly to the marriage. The Church also requires that the marriage be ordered towards the good of each other and the procreation and education of offspring. The Church believes that adultery, divorce, remarriage after divorce, marriage without the intent to transmit life, polygamy, incest, child abuse, free union, and trial marriage are sins against the dignity of marriage.
The Church also opposes civil same-sex marriage, believing that same-sex unions are an unfavourable environment for children and that the legalisation of such unions damages society. However, there is a growing number of Catholics who express support for civil unions or same-sex marriage, particularly in North America, Northern Europe, and Western Europe.
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Catholic wedding locations
For a Catholic wedding to be considered valid, it must be a Catholic wedding ceremony. This means that the wedding is usually held in a Catholic church, with the attendance of the local bishop, pastor, priest, or deacon, and at least two witnesses. However, there are options for Catholic destination weddings and weddings in non-Catholic settings.
Catholic Church Weddings
If both parties are Catholic, the wedding is usually held in a Catholic church. If one party is Catholic and the other is a non-Catholic Christian, the wedding can be held in a Catholic church or a non-Catholic Christian church with the permission of the Bishop.
Catholic Destination Weddings
Catholic destination weddings can be held in resorts in exotic locations such as Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. Many of these resorts have onsite Catholic chapels, and some offer wedding packages that include a priest to perform the ceremony, a decorated chapel, and assistance with paperwork.
Catholic Weddings in Non-Catholic Settings
A Catholic wedding in a non-Catholic setting may take place with the Catholic party obtaining dispensation from their bishop. This type of wedding fulfills natural law and canon law. However, if there is a communion service at the ceremony, Catholics may not receive communion.
Popular Catholic Wedding Locations
Some popular Catholic wedding locations in the United States include:
- A Gothic Revival church with stained glass and soaring ceilings.
- A historic basilica on the University of Notre Dame's campus, featuring incredible artwork and architecture.
- A Neo-Gothic church in New York City with stunning design.
- A hidden gem with stained glass and elegant architecture.
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Catholic wedding impediments
A Catholic wedding ceremony is required for a marriage to be considered valid by the Catholic Church. This is because sacramental marriage is a liturgical act and it is therefore appropriate that it should be celebrated in the public liturgy of the Church. Marriage also introduces spouses into an ecclesial order, creating rights and duties in the Church for them and their children.
The Catholic Church identifies 12 impediments to the Sacrament of Marriage, also known as 'Diriment Impediments'. These impediments are obstacles to the marriage, hindering the free action of the agent. Three of these impediments are based on Divine Law and are not dispensable, even by the Pope. A further three are deemed 'reserved', meaning only the Pope can dispense them. The remaining six impediments can be dispensed by Church authority, in the person of the Bishop.
The 12 impediments are as follows:
- Impotence: Physical incapacity of the subject, including impuberty (the state of physical development requisite for generation).
- Prior Marriage: One or both parties are already married.
- Consanguinity: Consanguinity to the fourth degree in the collateral line (first cousin), including legal adoption to the second collateral line.
- Affinity: Relationship by marriage, for example, a mother-in-law.
- Spiritual Relationship: A marriage between a Godparent and a Godchild, even if not connected by blood, affinity or adoption.
- Vow of Chastity: A vow of chastity to God is an obstacle to any marriage.
- Disparity of Cult: One party is baptised in the Catholic Church, and the other is not.
- Crimen: One party previously conspired to marry on the condition of the death of their spouse while they were still married.
- Age: The minimum age for entering into a valid marriage has not been reached (14 for women, 16 for men).
- Forbidden Periods: Marriage cannot be celebrated during forbidden periods, including from Advent to the Epiphany, and from Ash Wednesday to Low Sunday.
- Public Propriety: For example, a man cannot validly marry the mother or daughter of a woman who was his mistress or cohabiting partner.
- Mixed Religion: A Catholic marrying a non-Catholic Christian. A condition for granting permission is that the Catholic party undertakes to remove dangers of defecting from the faith and to do all in their power so that all the children are baptised and brought up in the Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics are required to have a Catholic wedding ceremony for their marriage to be considered valid by the Church. This involves exchanging vows in the presence of a priest or bishop, and two witnesses.
A Catholic marrying a non-Catholic Christian is referred to as a 'mixed marriage' and requires permission from the local bishop. If the non-Catholic spouse is not a Christian, the permission is called a 'dispensation from disparity of cult'. The Catholic party must also inform the non-Catholic spouse of their intention to raise any children as Catholics.
A Catholic can marry a non-Catholic in a non-Catholic church with permission from the bishop. This is called a dispensation from canonical form'. The Catholic party must still promise to raise any children as Catholics.
A Catholic who marries a non-Catholic in a civil ceremony is not considered validly married in the eyes of the Catholic Church. The couple should not receive Holy Communion.
