Author Topic: Sacrament of Matrimony (Read 913 times)

LittleFlowers · « **on:** August 04, 2016, 02:34:47 AM »

With God willing, I pray that I will be getting married in the Holy Church with the Sacrament of Matrimony. Only, I am a little confused. The priest at my home parish said I would need a civil ceremony after the Sacrament. Is this the norm?

Any input would be appreciated.

God Bless

nctradcath · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2016, 05:51:30 AM »

Unless the priest does not have a state license to marry couples, I am not sure why he would tell you this.

Degrelle · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2016, 09:28:49 AM »

This is the norm in many places in Europe where clergy are not given marriage licenses by the state. Therefore, if the couple want to be considered married in the eyes of the state, they have a civil wedding after the sacrament.

It sounds like your parish priest does not have a marriage license. This is becoming more common here in Canada, since technically anyone holding a marriage license could be forced to do a "gαy""marriage" so priests prepare to stay out of it.

Peter15and1 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2016, 09:47:34 AM »

It depends entirely on what country you are in. In most English-speaking countries, the religious wedding ceremony and the civil wedding ceremony are fused into the same event, and the priest can sign the civil marriage license.

However, in other countries (mainland Europe, for example), the state does not recognize religious weddings. Therefore, couples do have two ceremonies, in order to gain civil recognition of their marriage. Such a situation is expressly permitted by the 1917 Code of Canon Law:

Quote from: Canon 1063

...

The Church does not censure parties who are forced by civil law to appear before a non-Catholic minister, who acts as an official of the government, but their intention must be to merely comply with the requirements of law and to gain the civil recognition of marriage.

LittleFlowers · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2016, 07:41:21 PM »

Thanks, everyone, for the kind replies.

The priest is from Mexico, and I was surprised that he told me that I would need a civil ceremony after the Sacrament.

It's my home church, though, and we already completed Pre Cana and submitted the paperwork to be married there...

Marlelar · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2016, 12:28:28 AM »

Quote from: LittleFlowers

Thanks, everyone, for the kind replies.

The priest is from Mexico, and I was surprised that he told me that I would need a civil ceremony after the Sacrament.

It's my home church, though, and we already completed Pre Cana and submitted the paperwork to be married there...

The US does NOT require two ceremonies. You better get this straightened out with your priest pronto.

JezusDeKoning · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2016, 12:30:46 AM »

Quote from: LittleFlowers

Thanks, everyone, for the kind replies.

The priest is from Mexico, and I was surprised that he told me that I would need a civil ceremony after the Sacrament.

It's my home church, though, and we already completed Pre Cana and submitted the paperwork to be married there...

In Mexico, I believe, they need two ceremonies, but here, no. I believe they're required to sign the marriage license after the wedding.

poche · « **Reply #7 on:** August 05, 2016, 06:05:39 AM »

What country do you live in?

LittleFlowers · « **Reply #8 on:** August 05, 2016, 09:54:27 AM »

Thank you for all the replies to everyone who is helping me in this situation. I'm feeling pretty stressed, and I can't express my thanks enough.

I'm an American in the US. The priest is from Mexico and apparently is not a citizen. Maybe, as a poster cited above, since he is from Mexico this is why a civil ceremony is required. Also my betrothed is a foreigner, I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the situation.

God Bless.

JezusDeKoning · « **Reply #9 on:** August 05, 2016, 12:52:49 PM »

Quote from: LittleFlowers

Thank you for all the replies to everyone who is helping me in this situation. I'm feeling pretty stressed, and I can't express my thanks enough.

I'm an American in the US. The priest is from Mexico and apparently is not a citizen. Maybe, as a poster cited above, since he is from Mexico this is why a civil ceremony is required. Also my betrothed is a foreigner, I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the situation.

God Bless.

It doesn't unless he's not a US citizen and looking to be one - being legally married to one can expedite the process. Same with green cards/residency.

Peter15and1 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2016, 03:38:03 PM »

Quote from: LittleFlowers

Thank you for all the replies to everyone who is helping me in this situation. I'm feeling pretty stressed, and I can't express my thanks enough.

I'm an American in the US. The priest is from Mexico and apparently is not a citizen. Maybe, as a poster cited above, since he is from Mexico this is why a civil ceremony is required. Also my betrothed is a foreigner, I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the situation.

God Bless.

I don't think the fact that your fiance is a foreigner has anything to do with it, however, the fact that the priest is Mexican may. Some states might require the religious officiant to be a citizen in order to solemnize the marriage from a civil perspective. I would call your local courthouse/city hall and see what the rules are (you will probably need to go there to get a marriage license either way).

In any event, if there is a legal necessity to have a civil wedding after the religious one, the Church expressly permits such a thing, so I wouldn't worry about it, and just make sure everything is taken care of.