Question regarding what a catholic priest said about marriage?

Question

First off let give a brief backround of where I am comming from. I was born and raised catholic. I am still christian I just go to a non demonanational church now.

What the priest said was "If there is a catholic getting married to a non catholic in a non catholic church you should not attend"

I don't believe this is consistant with current catholic docturine. I have had more than one priest tell me marrying a non catholic was not a huge deal. Even marrying a Jew was ok(bigger deal but still ok, not sure on Islam though).

And even though It is not offical catholic docterine(as far as I know) It is statement like that on marriage and birth control from priest and the pope that I driven me(and I imagine some others) away from the catholic church.

I have looked through the bible there is not in it that backs up what he said. And I agree with my minister. If there is a conflict between what a human(him or that priest) say and what GOD says we go with what GOD says

Answer 1

You are mixing two different issues. Yes, Catholics are free to marry non-Catholics. But the situation you described in your first paragraph goes beyond that. It says "getting married in a non-Catholic church". That is the issue to which your priest was referring - not the matter of marrying a non-Catholic. Catholics marry non-Catholics in the Catholic Church all the time. Not a problem. But a Catholic cannot be validly married in a denominational church, or in a civil ceremony. Such a "marriage" would be invalid, and your priest was speaking to the issue of giving the appearance of supporting an invalid "marriage" carried out in direct opposition to the teaching of Christ's Holy Church, to which Christ said "he who hears you hears Me". He may be right in saying that you "should not" attend, but the Church does not say outright that you "may not attend". In fact, a Catholic would not necessarily be forbidden to attend such a ceremony - it would be a matter of personal conscience - but he/she could not officially participate in any way (best man, maid of honr, reader, etc.). In the Catholic Church's view, the ceremony is a non-marriage, and the couple would consequently be cohabiting without the benefit of marriage, which would mean the Catholic would be prevented from receiving the sacraments of the Church until such time as the couple actually married.
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Answer 2

We believe in ONE holy catholic apostolic church......one body of Christ. The greatest division between the catholic churches and non-denoms as far as I know is the interpretation and celebration of sacraments, especially communion. Since the Catholic church says that the host is consecrated and becomes the body and blood of Christ and others say it is symbolic of the body and blood that is a huge difference. I am with you on the bible-based thing.....but I also support the churches right to help interpret the bible and make rules for their congregation (the bible says that teachers and clergy will be judged more harshly so I am glad its not ME lol trying to figure it out). I just dont think you can have it both ways. For me, I think the idea that the church is the body of christ and we serve in different ways it a great analogy. The eye cannot be a hand and it cannot serve the same way, nor can one serve without the other. So you need to check your heart, pray, ask God....what church, what ministry, what service are you called to? If you go only where it is easy, if you never commit then maybe you haven't actually been of any service, yet. See my point? Its about asking God where he needs you and going there. I think that people who walk the fence, a little here a little there, taking doctrine only where its comfortable are playing a dangerous game that teeters on blasphemy....only my two cents.

Answer 3

I've always heard that if a Catholic marries a non Catholic, the kids need to attend the Catholic church. Personally (as a Lutheran), I believe that if a person knows the Jesus Christ died for their sins and follow the Bible, does it matter what church they attend? If your intended is a Christian, don't worry about the priest, just go to the Bible.

Answer 4

Two separate things.

Whenever a Catholic gets married that marriage is recognized and blessed by the Catholic Church, or not. A Catholic may, under certain circumstances, be blessed to marry a non-Catholic, and to do so in a non-Catholic church or ceremony.

It is a long-standing practice for Catholics not to attend weddings that are not blessed by the Church, since they are not considered marriages before God. In Catholic thought every one attending such a ceremony is a witness to it; it is not possible to 'witness' to something you don't think is really what it says it is.

People always have to follow what God says. It is, though, very easy to fool ourselves into thinking that whatever pleases me or is more convenient for me is God's will.

Answer 5

it is not forbidden for a clergyman to be married in the latin ceremony Catholic Church. this is a self-discipline rather the place a guy or woman chooses after being mentioned as to be celibate. by way of the historic past of the Church great numbers of priests have been celibate emulating the occasion of Jesus and the coaching of and occasion of St. Paul even till now it grew to develop right into a self-discipline. under specific circumstances a Latin ceremony priest could be married at the same time with having switched over from the Anglican/Episcopal , Lutheran or Moravian church homes. All different Rites of the Catholic Church don't have the strict self-discipline of celibacy yet all honor the self-discipline in spite of the undeniable fact that this is very own determination. there are 23 Rites in communion with the Roman See and 22 out of 23 don't have the self-discipline of celibate priests. i'm a %. priest married with 4 toddlers and 6 grand-toddlers. In Christ Fr. Joseph

Answer 6

It is not a big deal for a Catholic to marry a non Catholic. I am Catholic and my husband is not. However, it is a big deal if they marry outside of the Catholic Church. If they are not married by a Catholic priest the marriage in not valid in the eyes of the Church. The reason is that marriage is one of the seven sacraments. Sacraments are celebrated by priests. If you marry outside the Catholic Church and you live as a married couple you are living in sin. That is way the priest says you should not attend a wedding of a Catholic outside the Catholic Church. Because that will lead to sin. You should not show your support for this. I hope that clears things up for you.

Answer 7

The only "rule" in the BIble on marriage is that it is to be between a man and a woman (no offense intended to those of other pursuasions). I believe the birth control thing to be a hot topic because you are tampering with a natural process (one that God regards as very holy). God is pretty clear about wasting reproductive cells and I fear that sex today is looked at more for personal pleasure than an expression of the love between husband and wife. I too was raised a Catholic but now consider myself a Christian who takes direction from the Good Book and not the interpretations of men. There are many issues that the Catholic church must address in order to ensure its survival (Purgatory, celibacy, Mary Worship, etc) but I am not hopeful as it seems destined to fulfill the prophecy of being the 'Whore of Babylon" (who resides in the city built on 7 hills - Rome). Marry who you want to marry friend, just do not pass up the opportunity to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ to your future spouse.

Answer 8

I am Catholic and my husband is Muslim, we were married in a Catholic church. He can attend mass, he just can't receive communion. Any non-catholic can't receive communion because they don't believe in the Blessing of the Sacraments. It's not something really found in the Bible, but why have people receiving communion if they don't understand the concept? That's why kids go to First Communion class to understand.

Catholics are very ritually based and can be seen as a beatifully, symbolic rituals or can be seen as paganistic and boring.

I find nothing wrong with non-denominational churches, as I have attended a few in the past. I feel the fellowship is very positive. I do feel comfort in the Catholic traditions, though. It's peaceful and very spiritual.

Answer 9

Much of Roman Catholic doctrine come from the Pope, not necessarily from the Bible. According to a local Catholic priest, the non-attendance thing is something he is actually unsure of. It is not really doctrines that drive anyone away from any religion. It is dissagreement with church policy and a feeling that one cannot stay in a church that one dissagrees with. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope is the "Vicar of Christ" and in terms of religion, what he says is considered the "word of God". That is one major reason that there are so many Protestant faiths. They are protests of one or more Catholic doctrines.

Answer 10

It used to be a rule in the Catholic church that prohibited Catholics from doing just this but this was swept away after Vatican ll, the Priest was probably just set in his old ways.
I am curious though why something that could easily have been rectified drove you from your Catholic faith, also think on this, when Jesus told His disciples about eating His flesh and drinking His blood many of them were scandalized and walked away, `will you leave Me also` He asked the Apostles, and Peter replied,Where shall we go Lord,You alone have the message of eternal life`