Can Catholics marry atheists in a church?

Question

I dont understand why people dont understand why people of different faiths and nonfaiths would want to marry. A difference in religion doesn't stop you loving someone.

Answer 1

Yes. It is actually possible to marry a non-baptized individual. The marriage requires a dispensation from the Bishop/Diocese.

You DEFINITELY need to speak to a priest and begin the process of receiving a dispensation from the diocese.
The dispensation is called a Disparity of Cult dispensation.

Depending on what diocese you are in and what your parish is like...it can be a long process. You will need to start early. The sooner, the better as you DO NOT want to rush this paperwork.

The main issue here is that a Catholic wishes to marry in the Church. They encourage marriage within the Church, but you may not be able to celebrate an actual Mass in the presence of The Eucharist. You may have what is called the Marriage Rite and that is all. You will need to talk to the priest for more clarification.

The marriage process itself is a long one. Mandatory: at least 6 months of preparation. The priest will interview you both. They will collect as much information as possible to make sure you are entering this marriage with the right intentions. You will need to have affidavits signed by family or friends attesting to your history as far as religion and such. You will need to have a few meetings with the priest. (As is done with all individuals seeking to be married in the Church.) You will go through Pre-Cana preparation and pre-marital counseling for at least 6 months. You will take a compatibility test (it is the norm for all Church marriages). You will question everything--your relationship and any issues that come up. If you come through it all... you've had time to reflect and grow, and then you may proceed. You may find you want to continue with the marriage, you may find that it isn't the right decision. Marriage isn't something that should be taken lightly, or treated as a "trial" thing.

It is a long process, but one that is well worth it.

Good luck.

N.B: It is NOT mandatory for the Athiest to BECOME CATHOLIC. It isn't a requirement. What is taken into consideration as well is the possibility of conversion in the future...It IS NOT something that they will make you do. We've married Jewish individuals (who were marrying Catholics) here; we've married Baptists, Lutherans...as well as Athiests, etc...etc...You will, however, as a Catholic individual marrying the Athiest, need to sign a Declaration And Promise of the Catholic Party:

"I reaffirm my faith in Jesus Christ, and with God's help I intend to continue living that faith in the Catholic Church. I promis to do all in my power to share the faith I have receieved with our children by having them baptized and raised as Catholics. We have discussed our religious beliefs and practices. We intend to be faithful to one another until death, and we intend a marriage which is permanent." (You will sign this part of the application for the Disparity of Cult application in front of the Priest.)

My father, a Mormon, married my mother, a Catholic. She had to sign this, too.

Answer 2

The Catholic church is a lot more open to this process than a lot of people think. You can marry an atheist, as a Catholic, and the process is long. But the process is long if you were having a Catholic-Catholic wedding too.

At the beginning of your marriage preparation (which would be 6+ months before your intended wedding date) you will take answer a bunch of questions (name, address, blah, blah, blah, we had to say who our maid of honor and best men were), a survey (standard questions trying to make you aware of issues that may come up, your answers do not really mean anything because they could change from one day to the next) and maybe sit down with a psychologist, engage encounter or a couple sponsorship (some parishes require both), and maybe some other things. We did not spend that much time with a priest because priests are busy and have a lot of other things to do. We have been talking mostly to one of the Deacons from the church.

Each parish/diocese is different and may require more or less work for a wedding. You need to tell them early on that you are of different faiths. It is possible but the church wants the children to be raised Catholic, etc. and although I am not sure if you must say "yes, we will raise them Catholic" I have no idea what they will do if you say "no".

The best advice I could give you is to call up your parish, or the parish office of the church you want to get married in, and see what the requirements are. Every situation is different and the church has become much more understanding to unions of different faiths. Realize that they take marriage very seriously and want you to walk in being as prepared as possible, with as much information as possible, so they want to make sure you understand what Catholic marriage is all about. They want your marriage to be strong so they will put you and your beloved through a rigorous process, but it is just a small test and if you make it through your marriage should be strong and wonderful.

Good luck on your planning. It can be a pain, but it's worth it in the end.

Answer 3

Yes a catholic can marry an atheist in a Catholic Church.
My aunt is a catholic and married an atheist who had never been baptised into any church. Some priests might object, as there is a lot of paperwork involved but there is nothing in church law preventing it.

The ceremony is a little different from that for a catholic couple and is much shorter also; the atheist has to agree to have any children born in the marriage baptised as Catholics. The best thing to do is find a friendly priest and start early as it can take 3 or 4 months to organise all the paperwork.

Answer 4

As long as it's a Catholic church!

Seriously, if you're in that situation or think you may be soon, you need to talk to a priest now. Differing value systems can be a big strain on a marriage. Especially when kids come along. But even before that, most people don't take marriage vows as seriously as Catholics do. Don't get too far into it until you are both comfortable living by Catholic values. For a non-Catholic to do otherwise would be cruel to the Catholic partner, and if the Catholic is willing to compromise his/her values, perhaps they shouldn't be looking at a church marriage in the first place??

ADDITION: I see that while I was typing, someone else posted that the non-Catholic party is required by the Church to become Catholic. That is not true (though it would be ideal!) My marriage is proof of that, and I've known of others, too.

Answer 5

I know of non-Catholics marrying Catholics in a Catholic church. If he agrees, the priest can perform the wedding ceremony. However, they will usually not follow the wedding ceremony with the Eucharist, or Communion.
I believe that the non-Catholic partner has to agree to raise their children in the Catholic faith as part of the deal. There is also a requirement that you both attend pre-marriage courses (this is for ALL people marrying in the Catholic Church regardless of faith).

Answer 6

More important is the question will the children be bought up in the catholic religion or as atheists.
Will the atheist go to the childs first communion.
Can the marriage be happy with each of you feeling so different about religion
Does marriage have the same meaning for both of you

Answer 7

'jill2006' raised a good point, why would an atheist want to get married in church?
The only reason I can think of is to please (or placate) the partner, or the partners parents.
But the problem wouldn't end there would it?
What about children whoever wanted the church wedding would also want the children brought up in the faith!
This would be no problem to me as an atheist, because there is no way I would marry a religious nut in the first place, kids should be allowed to make up their own minds about religion not have it crammed into them !!
No one really needs a church to get married in, no one really needs a church to pray in !!
Nothing really to do with your question but I enjoyed getting it off my chest!!

Answer 8

Well, according to Canon Law, marriage in the Catholic Church may be done to couples who are both Catholics. It is the number 1 requirement. So, if an atheist wants to marry a Catholic in a Catholic Church, he must renounce his atheism and embrace the catholic faith. To do so, he must undergo the process of conversion and be baptized a catholic.

Answer 9

The Catholic Church allows marriages between Catholics and a non-baptized person.

Because the Church recognizes the tremendous challenge you have ahead of you, you have to get permission from the bishop.

With love in Christ.

Answer 10

you should ask a priest! it could be different in different churches and countries. i married a catholic in a catholic church with a catholic priest although I am a protestant. we had to ask for permission from the church first. For an atheist it could be ok if he or she does not say that she is!!! :) my grandfather was an atheist and he married a protestant in church with no problem. But i think catholics may be a lot stricter....