My boyfriend just proposed to me and we are starting to think about places to have the ceremony. I would like to get married in the Catholic Church. This is okay with him but he is a Southern Baptist. Does anyone know if the Catholic Church will allow someone who isn't Catholic to get married there? He'd rather not convert. I've just starting planning so I will ask my Church but I'd like opinions first. Thank you so much.
2007-07-30 06:47:38 · 33 answers · asked by MBEAR 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Yes, you must be converted...See below...I checked with Father Mitchell from my church and he referred me to this...please read.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MARRIAGES:
PRELIMINARY PREPARATION:
1. Wedding Packet & Arrangement - You will meet with a priest or deacon to fill out a request form and set up the wedding date and time and receive a wedding packet. No marriage arrangements can be done via telephone. The Archdiocese has requested that this be done at least six months prior to the wedding date.
2. Marriage Preparation - You must attend marriage preparation sessions: either Pre- Engaged Couples weekend, or a day preparation. After finishing Pre-Cana, contact the priest or deacon for further preparation.
3. Certificates of Letters - You must obtain certificates and letter such as Baptismal certificates, Holy Communion and Confirmation Certificates
4. Discussion about the wedding service (reading, music, rehearsal, decor, fees, etc.) - Any options will be discussed at this time (e.g. presentation of flowers to mothers at the sign of peace, lighting of the wedding (unity) candle, flowers presented at the Statue of the Blessed Mother.
5. Preparation with Visiting Presider - If a visiting priest or deacon is officiating, he might wish to complete the preparation and the pre-matrimonial questionnaire. Please check with him and let us know at least two months in advance.
6. In the event of any changes - If you change the date of your wedding, your address, your telephone, or the official witness (best man, maid or matron of honor), please inform the rectory promptly. If you cancel your scheduled wedding, please present promptly a written statement to this effect with your signature.
7. Marriage Banns - The banns will be published automatically for weddings of parish taking place here. If the bride or groom belongs to another parish, he or she should ask that parish to publish the banns in their home parish's bulletin. This must be completed two months prior to your ceremony.
REQUIRED:
1. Baptismal certificates with notations for any Catholic party from the place of their baptism, dated within six months of the proposed marriage. The baptismal certificate without a marriage notation is one that the proof that the person was not married previously in the Catholic Church.
----Proof of baptism of baptized non-Catholics should be established by certificate and/or affidavit.
2. Pre-nuptial investigation (PMI) form completed by both parties form with a priest or deacon.
3. Two affidavits for each party from individual witnesses who testify under oath that the bride or groom are free to marry (no impediments), and for baptized non-Catholics verification of their baptism.
4. Pre-Cana certificates
5. A civil license is required and must be obtained within 60 days prior to the wedding. Do not wait for the last week to apply since there is a waiting period required for preparation of the license.
I did find out about mixed marriages...and the requirements and steps.....Hope this helps you. And by mixed marriages...I am referring to the question you asked being....can a non catholic marry a catholic....definition = mixed marriage...not sure why someone gave me a thumbs down...I was just answering the question..hmmmmm.
MIXED MARRIAGE (A Catholic and a baptized or doubtfully baptized non-Catholic)
SITUATION A:
Onofrius, a baptized Catholic, wishes to marry Calvina, a validly baptized Christian. Neither were previously married.
Paperwork: See Requirements, plus:
Request permission from the Diocese, using Permission/Dispensation Form, for "Permission for Mixed Religion"
SITUATION B:
Fausta, a baptized Catholic, wishes to marry Brigham a doubtfully baptized non-Catholic. Brigham was doubtfully baptized since the Trinitarian formula possibly was not used, pouring of water or immersion in water seems to not have been done, or the ecclesial group's idea of baptism is not conformity with the Catholic Church. Neither have been previously married.
Paperwork: All the above Situation A, except that in addition to "Permission for Mixed Religion," request a dispensation for "Disparity of Cult as cautelam" (for caution or safety).
SITUATION C:
Sybillina, a baptized Catholic, wishes to marry Luther, a validly baptized non-Catholic. Neither party was married previously. Luther's uncle is a minister in his ecclesial community and the couple, because of the family connection and to have peace in the family, wished to be married by Luther's uncle.
Paperwork:
All the paperwork for Situation A, except that in addition to "Permission for Mixed Religion," request a dispensation for "Canonical Form," stating the reason(s) why the dispensation is being requested. Immediately after the wedding ceremony, the Catholic party is bound to report that the marriage took place to the priest or deacon. The priest or deacon should see to it that the marriage record with notation of the dispensation and permission, and prenuptial investigation are sent to the Sacramental records. Also the Catholic party's place must be notified.
2007-07-30 06:55:06 · answer #1 · answered by klassyprincess 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Congratulations on your engagement!
Generally there's no problem to a non-Catholic getting married in the Catholic Church, provided that the other partner is Catholic, and the non-Catholic has been baptized in the Trinitarian formula.
Most priests also ask that you raise the children in the Catholic faith. Have you and your fiancee talked about this? If you plan to raise the children Baptist (or not in any tradition) you may have to look around to find a priest who is willing to go ahead with the ceremony anyway. Bear in mind that the Catholic perspective of marriage is quite stringent and taken very seriously. But you probably already know that.
Before deciding where to get married, you two should discuss what your marriage will be like, whether you plan to convert to Southern Baptist, in what liturgy you'll raise the children, etc. This can prevent some difficulties later on.
Also, depending on how his family regards Catholics, you may have to prepare to deal with some difficulty from them. I hope that's not the case - it's really self-defeating, but I've seen it happen quite often.
Good luck with your planning. Good to take care of it in advance to make the wedding day less stressful.
2007-08-01 08:54:39 · answer #2 · answered by Veritatum17 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as some of the above posters say, it is not necessary to become a Catholic. Some posters say you have to agree to raise children Catholic: that is not exactly true. The Catholic partner has to agree to do everything possible to raise the children Catholic, possible understood to mean not disrupting the peace of the marriage. The non-Catholic has to be told that the Catholic partner has agreed to this. Also, it is not true that a Catholic can only marry another Christian. A Catholic can marry a non-Christian. Priests do not talk to each other in secret Latin. A priest will contact the priest of the parish you belong to (or live in) if he has any concerns.
2016-05-17 23:01:08 · answer #3 · answered by emily 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church as far I know wouldn't allow non-Catholic to marry in the church unless the person is converted to the Catholic Church membership. A friend of mine had the same situation you have with her fiance who was also Baptist. They got married by the court because he wouldn't convert to Catholic. And they had a problem where they going to worship at what church! Seek marriage counseling first before you guys get married find out what bothers you and work it out! May God Bless your future together. Let God lead you into your future also.
2007-08-05 12:29:59 · answer #4 · answered by knowhim3am 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes he can. i assume you are a Catholic so do speak to your priest before you go ahead with plans but there shouldn't be any problem especially since although non Catholic - he is still a Christian. If he were an atheist - that could pose a problem. A relative of mine married a Muslim in a Catholic church.
2007-08-06 08:39:37 · answer #5 · answered by Scarlet 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can...I had friends that did this years ago (I was in the wedding) - she was baptist, he was catholic. The ceremony wasn't as lengthy as it didn't include mass and all that good stuff. I'm not catholic, so I don't know what's all involved in an actual full catholic ceremony, but I do recall Jeff's grandmother asking after the ceremony where there was no mass to which his mom responded that Jane was not catholic to which his grandmother inquire "Well why is he marrying her then???"
I do know that they had to go through the required counseling (which Jane didn't take too kindly to as she, like me, is not fond of some of the beliefs of the Catholic church).
2007-07-30 06:58:18 · answer #6 · answered by Sunidaze 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The catholic church requires you to take marriage classes before getting married in their church. And if you are not catholic, you must attend a series of classes and take your confirmation in order to convert to Catholism before getting married.
2007-08-07 02:58:58 · answer #7 · answered by LaLa 78 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the catholic church has allowed that for quite some time now, I was brought up a protestant and married a Catholic in the Catholic church in 1978.
Congrats on your upcoming marriage.
2007-07-30 06:54:55 · answer #8 · answered by unknown friend 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
The Catholic Church allows marriage between Catholics and non-Catholics.
Because the Church recognizes the tremendous challenge that the interfaith couple will face, you may have to get permission from the bishop.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1633-1637: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3art7.htm#1633
With love in Christ.
2007-07-30 17:31:23 · answer #9 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can, but there are some considerations. He will have to go through premarital counselling with you - and the biggest one is that he MUST agree to raise the children Catholic, in your Catholic home.
So the biggest thing you and your bf have to discuss is how you foresee the issue of faith and values/morals with you two as a couple, and with raising children - before you decide where you want to marry.
2007-07-30 10:44:28 · answer #10 · answered by Lydia 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When I planned to get married in a Catholic church, my fiance wasn't Catholic, and I was. We were told he needed to provide a baptism certificate from his church, and we then would be required to follow the Catholic church's marriage preparation program.
For us, we ended up being uncomfortable with some of the things they wanted us to do, so we chose to get married by a lutheran pastor instead. If you have a family priest, ask to meet with him to discuss your options.
Congrats, and good luck!
2007-07-30 07:12:35 · answer #11 · answered by Sarah 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋