Second Marriages
Those eligible for a second marriage in the Church (due to a death of a previous spouse, dissolution from a previous bond, decree of nullity, etc.) are viewed with a special concern and compassion. Thus, special care must be given in the six months of preparation.
Validation of Marriage
If a couple is legally married but not in accordance with the laws of the Church, a validation (marriage in the Church) is permitted after the couple has completed an appropriate preparation as outlined by a member of the pastoral team.
Inter-Church/Interfaith Marriages
The Catholic Church considers the marriage between baptized Christians to be a sacrament. Yet it is only realistic to recognize that religious differences can give rise to tensions within a marriage. Such marriages deserve careful attention and support. An inter-church marriage refers to a marriage between a Catholic and another baptized Christian. When the non-Catholic is active in his or her faith, consideration should be given to the possibility of the following options:
- Inviting the participation of the minister of the non-Catholic faith tradition to be leading part of the marriage preparation.
- Inviting the Christian minister to participate in the wedding ceremony.
- Celebrating the sacrament in a non-Eucharistic ceremony.
In a marriage involving parties of different religions, the ceremony may be held in the church of another religion, provided that a member of the pastoral team of the Catholic Church gives the instructions and the Archdiocesan authority grants permission when a pastoral reason exists.
An interfaith marriage refers to a marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized person.
In such cases, special care should be taken to respect both traditions. It should be noted that in both instances the Catholic party will be asked to sign a document stating that he/she will continue to practice the Catholic faith and will do all in his/her power to have the children baptized and brought up Catholic.
Pregnancy before Marriage
When pregnancy occurs outside of marriage, it is a time of great stress and turmoil for the parties involved and their families. The Church views such situations with compassion and concern. However, marriage should not automatically be presumed to be the appropriate solution for the child or the parents, thus, special counseling and an evaluation must be obtained. This must be completed before any consideration for marriage in the Church.
Marriage of Minors
Generally, marriages between teenagers are to be discouraged since statistical evidence indicates that the probability of permanence in such marriages is greatly reduced.
- If either party is not yet twenty years old, consideration will be given only after consultation with parents and after a favorable recommendation from a counselor.
A. Rarely, if ever, will permission be given for marriage in the Church for anyone under eighteen.
