Gavin Howe
Marriage in the Catholic Church, or holy matrimony, is a lifelong union between a man and a woman, which is considered indissoluble. The Church does not accept divorce and remarriage, but if a spouse dies, the widow or widower is considered free to marry again. If a divorced Catholic wishes to remarry, they must first seek an annulment, which is a decree of nullity stating that a valid marriage never occurred. This can be a complex process, especially if the divorced person's previous marriage is considered valid by the Catholic Church. In the case of widowed Catholics who wish to remarry, they are generally free to do so, although they may be asked to provide a copy of their deceased spouse's death certificate or obituary as part of the wedding preparation process.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marriages between in-laws | The Church continues to evidence concern for marriages between in-laws in some situations, but at the same time it acknowledges that marrying one’s in-law isn’t always a bad thing. |
| Affinity | Affinity is an impediment to marriage due to a kinship relationship created by another marriage or as a result of extramarital intercourse. Marriages and sexual relations between people in an affinity relationship are regarded as incest. |
| Canon Law | Canon 109 of the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church provides that affinity is an impediment to marriage. |
| Dispensation | A dispensation from the impediment of affinity can be obtained from a bishop. |
| Marriages between Catholics and non-Catholics | Marriages between Catholics and non-Catholics can be held in a Catholic church with the permission of the bishop. |
| Marriages between Catholics and non-Christians | The Church considers marriages between Catholics and non-Christians invalid unless a dispensation is granted. |
| Marriages between baptised and non-baptised persons | Marriages between baptised and non-baptised persons are not considered sacramental by the Church. |
| Marriage requirements | The Church requires marriages to take place before a priest, preferably with a nuptial Mass. |
| Marriage restrictions | The Church does not permit marriages during forbidden times, such as during Lent and Advent. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic in-laws marrying in a Catholic Church
In the Catholic Church, a relationship of affinity arises from a valid marriage. Affinity pertains to the wife and the blood relatives of her husband, or the husband and the blood relatives of his wife. For example, if John Jones and Susan Smith are married, John becomes related by affinity to the Smith family, and Susan is related by affinity to the Jones family.
The Catholic Church does not accept divorce and remarriage. A divorced person is still considered married in church law and is therefore not free to remarry in the Church. However, if a divorced person obtains an annulment, their first marriage is deemed invalid, and they are then free to marry in the Catholic Church again.
In the case of in-laws marrying, if the first marriage has been annulled, there is no question of affinity. This means that a widowed man can marry his late brother's wife in the Catholic Church, as there is no blood relation, and the affinity that existed through the previous marriage is no longer valid.
For a widowed man to marry his sister-in-law, he would need to obtain a dispensation from the impediment of affinity from the bishop. The bishop can assess the situation and determine whether such a dispensation should be granted, depending on the individual circumstances of the families involved.
In summary, Catholic in-laws can marry in the Catholic Church, but they must ensure that any previous marriages have been annulled or dissolved, and they may need to obtain a dispensation from the impediment of affinity in some cases.
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Catholic in-laws marrying as non-Catholics
For Catholic in-laws to marry as non-Catholics, they would need to obtain a "dispensation from disparity of cult", also known as a "dispensation from form". This is because the Catholic Church views marriages between Catholics and non-Christians as invalid unless a dispensation has been obtained from the ecclesiastical authority.
To obtain this dispensation, the Catholic in-laws would need to meet certain conditions. Firstly, they must declare that they are prepared to remove the dangers of defecting from the Catholic faith. This is a serious consideration, as intimately uniting with someone who does not share the Catholic faith may tempt the Catholic spouse to abandon their beliefs.
Secondly, the Catholic in-laws must promise to do everything in their power to raise any offspring as Catholics. This includes agreeing to baptize their children and ensuring they are raised in the Catholic Church. The non-Catholic spouse must be informed and aware of these promises.
Additionally, both Catholic in-laws must understand the purposes and essential properties of marriage within the Catholic faith. They must also agree that their marriage will be open to children, as artificial contraception is forbidden.
To obtain the dispensation, the Catholic in-laws would typically work with their parish priest, who would apply for the dispensation from the bishop. The priest would also meet with the couple to help them understand the spiritual importance of matrimony in the Catholic Church.
It is important to note that even with the dispensation, the marriage between Catholic in-laws as non-Catholics would be considered natural rather than sacramental since the sacraments can only be received by the baptized. The wedding ceremony could take place in a Catholic church or a non-Catholic church, but it would usually not include a Mass to avoid the difficulty of non-Catholic guests being unable to receive the Eucharist.
While there are additional requirements and considerations for Catholic in-laws marrying as non-Catholics, it is possible for the marriage to be recognized as valid by the Catholic Church if the necessary steps are taken.
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Catholic in-laws marrying in a non-Catholic Church
Catholic in-laws getting married in a non-Catholic Church is possible, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, the Catholic Church recognizes two types of mixed marriages: sacramental and non-sacramental. A sacramental marriage is when a Catholic marries a baptized non-Catholic Christian, and a non-sacramental marriage is when a Catholic marries a non-baptized person.
In the case of a sacramental marriage, the Catholic Church recognizes the validity of the marriage, but it is not considered a sacrament because the non-Catholic spouse is not baptized. For this type of marriage, the diocesan bishop's consent is required, which is termed "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage". The priest must receive this dispensation in writing from the bishop, and it is typically granted as long as the Catholic spouse agrees to continue practising the Catholic faith and raise any children in the Catholic religion.
On the other hand, a non-sacramental marriage, where a Catholic marries a non-baptized person, is seen as invalid by the Church unless a dispensation is granted. This dispensation, called a "dispensation from disparity of cult", can only be obtained under certain conditions. If granted, the Church recognizes the marriage as valid but natural rather than sacramental.
In terms of the wedding ceremony itself, a mixed marriage can take place in a non-Catholic church with the permission of the bishop. A non-Catholic minister can officiate the wedding, and a Catholic priest may also be present to address, pray with, and bless the couple. It is considered good manners to inform any Catholic guests that the wedding ceremony is approved and blessed by the Catholic Church to avoid confusion or misunderstanding.
While the Catholic Church has specific requirements and considerations for mixed marriages, they try their best to accommodate and bless these unions. It is important for Catholic in-laws planning to marry in a non-Catholic Church to seek guidance from their parish priest and obtain the necessary dispensations to ensure their marriage is recognized by the Church.
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Catholic in-laws marrying without annulment
The Catholic Church considers marriage to be a lifelong bond, and as such, it does not recognize civil divorce as a way to end a marriage. Instead, the Church requires divorced individuals to obtain a declaration of nullity, or an annulment, before they can remarry in the Catholic Church. This means that Catholic in-laws cannot marry each other without first obtaining an annulment from their previous marriages.
An annulment is a declaration by a tribunal, or a Catholic church court, that a marriage thought to be valid according to Church law actually fell short of at least one of the essential elements required for a binding union. The tribunal process seeks to determine if something essential was missing at the moment of consent, such as the internal dispositions of the parties or a proper understanding of what marriage entails. If the tribunal decides in favor of the nullity of the marriage, the parties are then free to marry in the Catholic Church, unless certain underlying issues need to be resolved.
To initiate the annulment process, the petitioner (the person requesting the annulment) submits written testimony about the marriage and a list of individuals familiar with the marriage. If the other spouse did not co-sign the petition, they will be contacted and given the right to be involved. Both spouses, as well as family and friends, may provide testimony during the process. The length of the annulment process can vary depending on the type of process followed and the specific circumstances.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church recognizes the validity of marriages between non-Catholics, including those between Protestants, Jews, or nonbelievers. Therefore, if the in-laws in question are not both Catholics, and their previous marriages were not between two Catholics, they may not need to obtain an annulment in the Catholic Church before marrying each other. However, if either of them was previously married to a Catholic, they would likely need to go through the annulment process before remarrying in the Catholic Church.
Additionally, there are certain circumstances where a Catholic marriage may be considered invalid without the need for an annulment. For example, if a Catholic marries someone of a different faith without obtaining a dispensation from the Church, or if the marriage was not contracted before the local bishop or a delegated parish priest, the marriage may be considered invalid. In such cases, the individuals may not need to obtain an annulment before marrying each other in the Catholic Church.
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Catholic in-laws marrying without a priest
In the Catholic Church, a marriage between a man and the wife of his deceased brother was once considered valid. This is known as Levirate marriage, as described in Deuteronomy 25. However, the Catholic Church now considers this a form of affinity, which is an impediment to marriage. Affinity is a relationship by marriage, such as that between a mother-in-law and her son-in-law.
Despite affinity being an impediment, the Church does not view marriages between in-laws in all situations as negative. A widowed man can marry his late brother's widow, but he is not obligated to do so. The diocesan bishop can assess the situation and determine whether a dispensation from the impediment of affinity should be granted. This is dependent on the individual circumstances of the families involved.
For a Catholic marriage to be valid, it must be contracted before the local bishop or a parish priest delegated by the bishop, and in the presence of at least two witnesses. The participants in the marriage contract must be free to marry, with no impediments according to canon law. If there are any impediments, a dispensation can sometimes be given.
In the Catholic Church, the priest's role is to "'assist'" the spouses in ensuring that the marriage is contracted according to canon law. If it is impractical for a priest to attend, a competent layperson may be delegated by the Church or may attend in the priest's place. In the absence of a priest and a competent layperson, the marriage is still valid if witnessed by two witnesses.
Therefore, while it is possible for Catholic in-laws to marry without a priest, it is not common and requires special circumstances for the marriage to be considered valid in the eyes of the Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, but express permission is required from the bishop. The couple must also understand the nature of Catholic marriage.
Yes, but such marriages are not sacramental. The Church, therefore, discourages them and requires a Catholic who wishes to marry an unbaptized person to receive a special dispensation from their bishop.
No. Marriage, by definition, is a lifelong union between one man and one woman. The Catholic Church does not recognize, even as a civil marriage, a contracted relationship between two men or two women.
Yes, as long as the previous marriage has been declared null or invalid by the Catholic Church or the former spouse has died. A declaration of nullity does not deny that a relationship existed between the couple or that they loved each other, but rather it is a declaration that a valid marriage was never brought about on the wedding day.
