How Catholics Should Approach Invalid Weddings

Attending the wedding of a fellow Catholic that takes place outside the Church is a question that is often asked of canonists. While the Code of Canon Law does not explicitly forbid Catholics from attending invalid weddings, it is important to understand the context and make a judgment call based on prudence. The validity of a wedding depends on factors such as the couple's capacity for marriage, the nature of their consent, and the proper form, which includes the presence of an authorized minister of the Church and two witnesses. Catholics are generally discouraged from attending invalid weddings, especially those that contradict natural law, such as when one party is divorced without an annulment or when both parties are of the same sex. However, in certain limited circumstances, a Catholic may attend an invalid wedding, especially if their absence would cause alienation or scandal. It is essential for Catholics to uphold the sanctity of marriage and carefully consider the implications of their attendance at such weddings.

Catholics can attend a Catholic wedding in a Catholic Church

Canon law states that a Catholic wedding must be contracted before the local bishop, pastor, or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them, and before two witnesses. This is known as canonical form. When a Catholic marries in a civil ceremony or in a non-Catholic place of worship, the Church does not recognize it as valid unless a dispensation from canonical form is obtained from the diocesan bishop.

If a Catholic wedding takes place in a Catholic Church, it can be assumed that both spouses are free to marry and that there are no canonical impediments. This is because prenuptial forms and questionnaires would have been completed and established this fact. Therefore, all Catholics are free to attend a Catholic wedding in a Catholic Church.

However, it is important to note that Catholics may have serious reservations about attending a Catholic wedding in a non-Catholic setting, even if it is considered valid. For example, if there is a communion service at the ceremony, Catholics may not receive communion in a non-Catholic ceremony.

In conclusion, Catholics can attend a Catholic wedding in a Catholic Church as long as it fulfills natural law and canon law, and both spouses are free to marry.

Catholics can attend a Catholic wedding in a non-Catholic setting with reservations

Catholics are faced with a difficult choice when they are invited to a wedding outside of the Catholic Church. On the one hand, they want to show their support for family and friends, but on the other, they want to remain faithful to Christ and His teachings on marriage.

A Catholic may attend a Catholic wedding in a non-Catholic setting with reservations. This scenario involves a practicing Catholic marrying a non-Catholic in a non-Catholic church. In this case, the Catholic must request dispensation from their bishop, and if granted, the marriage can take place but must still be recorded in the Catholic parish. Additionally, the Catholic party must inform their non-Catholic spouse-to-be of their intention to raise any children as Catholics. If the Catholic spouse has the dispensation of the bishop, and both spouses are free to marry, then any Catholic may attend the wedding. However, if there is a communion service, Catholics may not receive communion in a non-Catholic ceremony.

However, it is important to note that Catholics should not attend a wedding that is invalid in the eyes of the Church. An invalid marriage is one that is not a real marriage, and the Church does not recognize it as valid. This includes situations where a Catholic marries outside of the Catholic Church without obtaining permission from their bishop. While there is no official Church ruling on attending invalid weddings, Catholics must use their prudential judgment and uphold the sanctity of marriage. They should also consider the potential for causing scandal by appearing to approve of an invalid marriage.

In conclusion, while Catholics can attend a Catholic wedding in a non-Catholic setting with the appropriate dispensation, they must do so with reservations and be mindful of the potential implications for their faith and the couple's marriage.

Catholics may attend the non-canonical form marriage of a Catholic with serious reservations

Catholics are faced with a difficult choice when it comes to attending the non-canonical form marriage of another Catholic. While there is no official Church ruling on this matter, it is presumed that a Catholic should not attend such a wedding as it is not considered a valid marriage in the eyes of the Church. However, this presumption is not a hard-and-fast rule, and Catholics are advised to use their prudential judgement in each specific case, keeping in mind their duty to uphold the sanctity of marriage.

The non-canonical form marriage of a Catholic is considered potentially valid if both parties are free to marry and intend to do so with the properties of unity and indissolubility. If the Catholic spouse(s) are only nominally practising and poorly instructed in their faith, they may not be aware that they are committing a sin by marrying outside the Church without a dispensation from their bishop. In such cases, the defect of canonical form can be easily remedied.

If a Catholic believes that their attendance at the wedding might push the Catholic spouse(s) further away from the Church, they should not attend. However, if they think that their presence might help bring the spouse(s) closer to the Church, they could attend, provided they make their position clear. For example, they could say something like: "Remember, you were born a Catholic, and you should get this marriage blessed in the Church and put Christ at the centre of your relationship."

Catholics who decide to attend such a wedding should be mindful of the risk of causing scandal, especially if they take an active role in the ceremony. Their presence may be interpreted as approval and could influence the decisions of other Catholics facing similar choices. To avoid giving this impression, they should communicate their position to the couple beforehand and avoid participating in the wedding party or reception.

Catholics should not attend the remarriage of a divorced person without annulment

Catholics should not attend the remarriage of a divorced person without an annulment. This is because, in the eyes of the Catholic Church, a divorced person is still married, and their second marriage is therefore considered invalid and a sin. Attending such a wedding could be seen as condoning the sin and would make one "partly culpable for the sin".

The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a "cosmic and divine" sign and a "doorway into the mystery of God himself". It is a powerful symbol of God's "passionate longing and permanent, life-giving love" for humanity. Marriage is also a natural and supernatural act, in which "a couple mysteriously shares in the unbreakable bond of love between Jesus, the Bridegroom, with his Bride, the Church".

Because of the sacred nature of marriage, Catholics are only permitted to divorce in cases of abuse or infidelity. However, even in these cases, the Church does not grant a divorce, but an annulment, which declares that the marriage was invalid and did not meet the requirements of a sacramental marriage.

The annulment process can be long, often lasting a year or more, and involves extensive research by the marriage tribunal of the diocese. If a Catholic has divorced without an annulment, they are still married in the eyes of the Church and would be committing adultery if they remarried.

While the Church does not expressly prohibit Catholics from attending invalid weddings, it is generally advised that they do not. Monsignor Charles Pope, media personality and pastor of Holy Comforter–St. Cyprian Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., argues that:

> "Catholics should not attend the weddings of Catholics held outside of the Church, or weddings that are invalid due to other factors."

However, Pope concedes that there may be situations in which refusing to attend a wedding could damage family relationships. In such cases, he suggests that Catholics may attend but should later explain to the couple the need to validate their marriage in the eyes of the Church.

Other Catholic thinkers, such as Dr. Janet Smith, philosopher and retired professor of Sacred Heart Catholic Seminary in Detroit, argue that there are rare exceptions where a Catholic may attend the reception, but not the marriage ceremony, of an invalid wedding. Smith states that:

> "I don't believe attendance inherently means approval, even if it will generally be interpreted that way."

Father Mitch Pacwa, president of Ignatius Productions and EWTN teacher and host, cautions that:

> "Every situation will call upon our reserves of prayer, discernment and evaluation. And a good confession before making any decision is always a good idea."

Catholics should not attend the attempted marriage of same-sex partners

The Church's position is that marriage is the union of a husband and a wife, and attending a same-sex "wedding" may be considered support for something that is incompatible with this truth. While it can be a difficult decision, especially when it involves close family or friends, Catholics are called to put concern for the spiritual state of their loved ones above all else.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that homosexual persons "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity" and that "every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided". However, the Church's teachings on marriage are clear, and Catholics are called to stand firm in objective moral truth, even if this causes tension within families.

In summary, Catholics should not attend the attempted marriage of same-sex partners because it goes against the core teachings of the Catholic Church on the sacrament of marriage. Instead, they can show love to a person with same-sex attraction in many other ways that do not involve attending such a ceremony.

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