Bringing you the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His Church While PROMOTING CATHOLIC Apologetic Support groups loyal to the Holy Father and Church's magisterium
Home About
AskACatholic.com		 What's New? Resources The Church Family Life Mass and
Adoration		 Ask A Catholic
Knowledge base
AskACatholic Disclaimer
Search the
AskACatholic Database
Donate and
Support our work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
New Questions
Cool Catholic Videos
About Saints
Disciplines and Practices for distinct Church seasons
Purgatory and Indulgences
About the Holy Mass
About Mary
Searching and Confused
Contemplating becoming a Catholic or Coming home
Homosexual and Gender Issues
Life, Dating, and Family
No Salvation Outside the Church
Sacred Scripture
non-Catholic Cults
Justification and Salvation
The Pope and Papacy
The Sacraments
Marriage
back
Relationships and Marriage situations
Specific people, organizations and events
Doctrine and Teachings
Specific Practices
Church Internals
Church History


Mary Woolley wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • Is it right for a practicing Roman Catholic to be a witness at an adulterous marriage?
  • Should they take their 7 and 8 year-olds with them?

My husband and I feel it is wrong to attend but would like to know what the official line is.

Our parish priest is very vague.

Many thanks,

Mary
  { Is it right for a practicing Roman Catholic to be a witness at an adulterous marriage? }

Mary Ann replied:

Hi, Mary —

You have to be specific. When you say adulterous marriage, you have to specify why and what the relation of the couple is to the Catholic Church.

If the couple is not Catholic, then it is fine to attend, as they are presumably in good faith.

Attendance is different from being an official witness, however. Whether or not you could do that would depend on circumstances you have not described.

Mary Ann

Mary replied:

Dear Mary Ann,

Since sending my e-mail we have talked at great length with our parish priest and have come to the decision that we must follow our conscience and not what is expected of us.

We do appreciate the time you took to help us.

Thanks for everything.

Kind regards,

Mary Woolley

Mary Ann replied:

Mary,

It is good that you're following your conscience, especially in a case in which there is no absolute rule and the particulars are known only to you.

The only absolute rule is that Catholics may not be official witnesses at the invalid wedding of a Catholic.

Mary Ann
Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
© 2012 Panoramic Sites
The Early Church Fathers Church Fathers on the Primacy of Peter. The Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church and the term Catholic. The Early Church Fathers on the importance of the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.