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WouldThisBeValid
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
I have a question but first let me explain
the situation.
I'm engaged. Both of us are baptized Catholics
who have received our First Communion and
Confirmation and a Catholic wedding is important
to us. Here's the problem:
We want to get married outside the Church;
to be exact, in a state theatre downtown.
Per Canon law, I know this is almost impossible.
I explained the situation to a friend of mine
and she said she had a priest for me. I found
this hard to believe so I took the information
she gave me and looked him up. He was at a
nearby parish but, after a while, was moved.
I found out later he was moved because
he was accused of embezzlement. Shocked at
this, he went to court and was found not guilty
by a jury. The diocese was not thrilled about
this and told him (for
lack of a better word) not to practice. He
tried writing a few times to reconcile but
was told reconciliation was out of question.
Now he has his own congregation.
- If he does our ceremony would it be legitimate?
- Would it be valid but illicit?
- From the Vatican's view, would it be
wrong but still valid?
Please help.
WouldThisBeValid
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Can
we celebrate a valid marriage outside
the Church with a priest who was told not to practice? }
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Paul
replied:
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Dear WouldThisBeValid,
We would need more information, but
if this priest has been told by his
bishop to not practice his priestly
duties, either temporarily or permanently,
you should not seek him to celebrate
your wedding. Whether it is licit
should be your immediate concern,
not if it is valid.
For more exact information on this,
you should contact your local diocesan
chancery office for details.
Paul
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Mary
Ann replied:
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WouldThisBeValid —
The priest does not marry you;
he is the official Catholic witness.
You would need a dispensation to
marry elsewhere, and an official
Catholic witness. This priest is
operating in schism so could not
be an official witness for the Church.
If you marry outside of the Church,
your marriage is invalid. You could
marry in a sacramental ceremony in
the Church, and then have a civil
ceremony in a theatre, I suppose:
A wedding is not a show, but a liturgical
celebration of a union that is the
symbol of the relationship of God
with His people.
Mary Ann
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