I am engaged to a wonderful man who has no "official" religion. We have a 15 month old daughter. I was informed that I was not going to be able to marry in the Catholic church because I have an illigetimate child. Our daughter was baptized 6 weeks after she was born and the priest (who will be marrying us) knew we weren't married, but intended to be. I want to be married in the Catholic church and will be heart broken if this statement was true. I have been unable to reach the priest for answers. Please help!!!
2007-03-01 16:04:57 · 12 answers · asked by colorfulswanson 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
An illegitimate child should not prevent you from being married in the Church. If you have not been married before, then you are free to marry. If you are divorced, you will need to seek an annulment before being able to marry again in the church. An annulment simply means that the church recognizes that the original marriage was not valid due to some circumstances present at the time, and that decision is up to the marriage tribunal of your diocese. However, you should go to Confession before receiving any more Sacraments, even Holy Communion. Perhaps that is what the other person meant to tell you. You might also want to undergo some pre-marital counseling. Has your fiancee ever considered becoming Catholic? Encourage him to find out more by attending the local parish's RCIA program. There is no obligation, and he can learn about the Catholic faith in order to make an informed decision. I'd also encourage you to learn more about the faith by reading the Catechism and listening to Catholic radio. Check out www.ewtn.com for info about Catholic radio and visit your local Catholic bookstore to find a copy of the Catechism. Blessings! Keep trying to reach the priest - hopefully he's a good one and will give you sound advice.
2007-03-01 16:18:19 · answer #1 · answered by LvsBtxPtr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can be married in the Catholic Church. As long as you haven't been married before nor he hasn't either. I hope you are not living together because that might be a reason. If you are living together you would have to live apart until the wedding. I think all Catholic Church's require 6 months counseling though before they will marry you. Check with your priest. Yes, I read an above answer and I guess I just assumed you were Catholic, but you need to be Catholic.
2007-03-01 16:16:35 · answer #2 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whoever told you that is a blooming idiot.
Yes, you sinned by having sex outside of marriage, but at least you didn't have an abortion.
As long as you are not still living in sin with the child's father, you can marry in the Church.
You will need to go through more scrutiny, because you have shown your immaturity by soncseiving out of wedlock. You'll go through marriage prep- make sure you go to confession right before the wedding.
2007-03-02 14:31:28 · answer #3 · answered by Mommy_to_seven 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When it comes to religion, money talks quite loudly. I was married in a Catholic church, but beforehand, when they found out I was an Atheist, they gave a fit and put us through a run-around. Yet they really smiled and congratulated us when I handed them a check. They also made me say stupid things like "I promise to raise any children we have as Catholic".
2007-03-01 16:18:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like you don't follow the teachings of Catholicism as you're marrying a man who isn't Catholic and had a child out of wedlock (I could care less by the way) but wonder why it matters to you so much.
2007-03-01 16:11:34 · answer #5 · answered by me 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think your fiance needs to convert to Catholicism before you can get married in a Catholic Church.
you should also have confession (i think it is mandatory before receiving any Holy Sacrament like Confirmation and Marriage).
other than that, there should be no problems.
but for the best answer, you should ask the priest who will marry you.
2007-03-01 16:11:22 · answer #6 · answered by zeto 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To the best of my knowledge, the status of your child is not an impediment. You will have to get permission to marry a non-Catholic (no, he does not have to convert), but that is rarely a problem.
2007-03-01 16:09:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to be Catholic. Are you? And I think that your boyfriend has to be Catholic too. It doesn't have anything to do with the child, it has to do with are you both Roman Catholic?
2007-03-01 16:13:59 · answer #8 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course you can if you are Catholic and your husband agrees to allow your children to be raised as Catholics. The baptism already proves that. You should have no problems. Congratulations.
2007-03-01 16:09:55 · answer #9 · answered by Joe 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Of course you can get married in the church. If he is being a jerk, then you may need to find another priest. Have your wedding anyway you want honey.
2007-03-01 16:11:00 · answer #10 · answered by HeartOfGlass 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋