Cardinals Officiating Weddings: What's Allowed And What's Not

In the Catholic Church, a cardinal is a man appointed by the Pope to the College of Cardinals. To be appointed, a man must first be ordained as at least a priest. In 2019, a couple who were married by Pope Francis on a flight from Santiago, Chile, to Lima, Peru, brought up the question of whether Catholic weddings can take place outside of a church. While Canon law is rather broad about where a Catholic wedding should take place, dioceses apply their own interpretations. For example, the Baltimore Archdiocese has permitted outdoor weddings on a case-by-case basis since 2018, while the Philadelphia Archdiocese typically does not allow outdoor weddings.

Catholic weddings outside of churches

Catholic weddings are traditionally held inside a Catholic church, with the marriage performed by a Catholic priest. However, there are provisions in canon law that allow for Catholic weddings to be held outside of churches in certain circumstances.

Canon 1118 of the Code of Canon Law stipulates that a marriage between two Catholics or between a Catholic and a baptised non-Catholic should typically be celebrated in a church. However, with permission from the local Ordinary (the bishop) or the parish priest, these marriages may be celebrated in another church, oratory, or "other suitable place".

The distinction is made between a sacramental marriage, where both parties are baptised, and a non-sacramental marriage, where one party is not baptised. For a sacramental marriage to be held outside of a church, permission from the bishop is required, whereas for a non-sacramental marriage, the officiating priest or deacon can authorise the celebration outside of a church.

In recent years, the clergy has started to make some changes, and a few dioceses have allowed outdoor weddings on a case-by-case basis. As of 2019, the Archdiocese of Montana and the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland, have ruled that a priest or deacon can officiate a wedding in "another suitable place". This means that Catholic couples in these dioceses can now marry in venues like hotels, museums, and outdoor locales. To be married outside of a church in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, at least one member of the couple must be a confirmed Catholic residing in the archdiocese, and the couple must go through the Church's marriage preparation.

There are still some restrictions on the locations for Catholic weddings outside of churches. Weddings cannot take place in bars, clubs, or on boats. The specific location must be listed, making it clear where the wedding is taking place.

Virtual ordinations

In the age of the internet, it is possible to be ordained as a minister in a matter of minutes. Various virtual churches offer online ordinations, styling themselves as "multi-denominational" or "nondenominational". These virtual churches do not require any education, training, or assent to a specific creed or system of beliefs.

However, most Catholics, given their understanding of ordained ministry, would not consider the possibility of "ordination" through an internet church. The Catholic Church holds sacred the belief that God, not the individual, calls a person to specific roles of service, such as priesthood and the diaconate. It is the Church that discerns and confers Holy Orders, as no one is seen to have a right to ordination.

Seeking ordination outside the Catholic Church denies the Church's teachings on valid ordination and, by extension, rejects the Church's teachings on the sacrament. Because of the significance of Holy Orders in the Catholic faith, a Catholic may not seek ordination in another church, even solely to officiate at a wedding.

Living in a society that often does not value religious traditions, the increase in internet ordinations is not surprising. However, virtual "ordination" does not take the discernment and preparation necessary for ordained service seriously. Catholics are called to witness to the life-giving graces of the sacraments as instituted by Christ and conferred by the Church.

While Canon law is rather broad about where a Catholic wedding should take place, dioceses apply their own interpretations. For example, the Baltimore Archdiocese has permitted outdoor weddings on a case-by-case basis since 2018, with locations including museums, barns, fields, homes, and high school or college chapels. In contrast, the Philadelphia Archdiocese typically does not allow outdoor weddings and requires couples to seek permission from the bishop for an exception.

In summary, while virtual ordinations may be easily accessible, they are not recognized by the Catholic Church. Catholics seeking to officiate at a wedding should decline the request for virtual ordination and instead refer to the Church's teachings on Holy Orders and the sacrament of marriage.

Catholic weddings during the pandemic

Many couples had to drastically reduce their guest lists, with some weddings taking place with only eight people in attendance. Livestreaming allowed couples to include more people in their celebrations, including relatives from overseas. Some couples opted for multiple celebrations, with a small, intimate ceremony followed by a larger reception at a later date.

The uncertainty caused by the pandemic made wedding planning difficult, with many vendors and churches unable to provide clear answers. Some couples, like Krystal and Jack Scanlon, had to change their venue multiple times due to closures and even a fire. Despite the challenges, some couples found unexpected joys in their pandemic weddings, such as the intimacy of a small ceremony and the opportunity to wear their wedding attire twice.

The pandemic also provided an opportunity for couples to focus on their faith and lean on prayer during the planning process. Father Tom Elewaut, a pastor at a popular wedding venue, encouraged couples to view the difficulties as an important part of marriage preparation, believing that the pandemic could strengthen their bond.

Catholic weddings in non-Catholic churches

Catholic weddings can be held in non-Catholic churches, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, the Catholic party must obtain official permission from the diocese to marry a non-Catholic individual. This is known as a "mixed religion" marriage and requires written permission from the local priest. Additionally, the Catholic individual must commit to raising their children as Catholics and promise to do their best to have them baptised.

The non-sacramental nature of the marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptised individual means that the wedding can be held in a church or another suitable place, with the priest or deacon officiating the wedding able to authorise the celebration outside of a church. However, if the non-Catholic individual is a baptised Christian, the marriage is considered sacramental, and the wedding should ideally take place in a Catholic church. In this case, the non-Catholic spouse's minister may be present at the wedding and offer a few words, but they cannot officiate or preside over the ceremony.

It is important to note that the Catholic Church discourages the practice of "mixed religion" marriages due to the challenges that arise. As a result, marriage preparation is required, and communion services are typically not included in the ceremony. While Catholics are permitted to attend weddings in non-Catholic churches, they must ensure that the marriage is valid and not condoning any sin, such as the remarriage of a divorced person without an annulment.

In summary, while Catholic weddings in non-Catholic churches are possible, it is important to seek permission, understand the challenges, and ensure that the marriage is valid according to Catholic doctrine.

Catholic weddings and non-Catholic partners

Catholic/non-Catholic weddings are called "mixed marriages" and they can fall into two categories: sacramental and non-sacramental. A sacramental marriage is when a Catholic marries a baptised non-Catholic, such as an Episcopalian, Presbyterian, or Baptist. In this case, the wedding is a sacrament. A non-sacramental marriage is when a Catholic marries a non-baptised person, such as a Hindu, Jew, or Muslim. This type of marriage is not a sacrament.

For a Catholic to marry a non-Catholic, the couple must first receive a special dispensation in writing from the bishop. This dispensation is always given as long as the Catholic party agrees to continue practising the Catholic faith and promises to raise their children as Catholics. The priest must also meet with the couple to help them understand the spiritual importance of matrimony. This is often called "Pre-Cana".

If a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, the wedding is usually not a Mass to avoid the difficulty of many people being unable to receive the Eucharist. However, it is possible to have a Mass if both parties wish to do so. The ordinary place for a mixed marriage is the parish church, and the ordinary presider is the priest. A non-Catholic minister may also attend the marriage ceremony and may address, pray with, and bless the couple.

A bishop can permit a mixed marriage to take place in a non-Catholic church with a non-Catholic minister as the officiating witness. In this case, a Catholic priest may also attend and address, pray with, and bless the couple. To avoid any confusion or misunderstanding, it is considered good manners to inform any Catholic guests that the wedding ceremony is approved and blessed by the Catholic Church.

While the Catholic Church does not encourage the practice of mixed marriages due to the challenges that arise when a Catholic marries someone of a different religion, it does try to support interfaith couples and help them prepare to meet those challenges.

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