|
|
 |
Interfaith Marriage wrote: |
|
Hi, guys —
I am a Catholic girl, and I want to get married to a Hindu boy. I want to get married in the church and his parents are okay with it, except they also want a Hindu ceremony. They refuse to bless us unless we also do a Hindu ceremony. And my parents refuse unless we have a church wedding.
- So, is there any way I can do both?
I've already looked into dispensation for disparity of cult and for form. And my understanding is that even with a dispensation of form, you can get permission to have a ceremony outside of the church presided by a Hindu officiant or permission to have a joint ceremony with both the Catholic priest and Hindu priest. However, both our parents are against having a joint ceremony.
- Is there any other option where I can have an actual ceremony in church but also do a Hindu ceremony?
Any advice would greatly help.
Thank you
Interfaith Marriage
|
| { Is there any other option where I can have an actual ceremony in church but also do a Hindu ceremony? } |
Bob replied:
|
Dear Friend,
I think you need to consult a priest or canon lawyer for this one; I don't know how this would work exactly because it is a bit unique. You could contact your diocese to obtain the answer.
That being said, this will potentially be not just a complicated wedding but maybe marriage.
- For example, will the groom's parents be okay with the children being raised Catholic?
Even if the groom is (a condition for a Catholic wedding), it sounds like his parents have a lot of opinion and sway and I wouldn't want you to be caught off guard later should they try to influence you in a Hindu direction.
For Catholics, Hinduism is a false and pagan religion, and many of the "deities" are actually demonic principalities that exist beyond the myths (do your own homework on this and maybe consult some of the nationally known exorcists like Fr. Chad Ripperger or Fr. Carlos Martins for more information).
Participation in Hindu religious worship is idolatry and cannot be sanctioned. I am not familiar enough with Hindu wedding ceremonies to know what is involved in terms of prayer or ritual that may or may not invoke their deities, but I would proceed with caution. Because of these issues, the Church has set up guidelines to protect not only the spouses but the future children they create.
I realize that all this sounds negative and discouraging, but I think there may be a positive path forward if you have the right official guide understanding and support from your groom-to-be. Don't rush these things, and make sound decisions, because they will impact your lives together until death do you part.
Peace,
Bob Kirby |
Bob followed-up a week later:
|
Dear friend,
- Did you get my prior response?
This may simply be redundant.. But in any case, the second ceremony you desire is not permitted by Canon Law as best as I can tell. You should talk to a priest or someone in your diocese that is versed in Canon law to assist.
The relevant section follows below:
(Bold emphases added for clarity)
Canon 1127
§1. The prescripts of Canon 1108 are to be observed for the form to be used in a mixed marriage.
Nevertheless, if a Catholic party contracts marriage with a non-Catholic party of an Eastern rite, the canonical form of the celebration must be observed for liceity only; for validity, however, the presence of a sacred minister is required and the other requirements of law are to be observed.
§2. If grave difficulties hinder the observance of canonical form, the local ordinary of the Catholic party has the right of dispensing from the form in individual cases, after having consulted the ordinary of the place in which the marriage is celebrated and with some public form of celebration for validity. It is for the Conference of bishops to establish norms by which the aforementioned dispensation is to be granted in a uniform manner.
§3. It is forbidden to have another religious celebration of the same marriage to give or renew matrimonial consent before or after the canonical celebration according to the norm of §1. Likewise, there is not to be a religious celebration in which the Catholic who is assisting and a non-Catholic minister together, using their own rites, ask for the consent of the parties.
Canon 1128 Local ordinaries and other pastors of souls are to take care that the Catholic spouse and the children born of a mixed marriage do not lack the spiritual help to fulfill their obligations and are to help spouses foster the unity of conjugal and family life.
Canon 1129 The prescripts of Canons 1127 and 1128 must be applied also to marriages which the impediment of disparity of cult mentioned in Canon 1086, §1 impedes. |
You can access the content here:
Peace,
Bob Kirby
[Related posting]
|
|
|
|
