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1st civil marriage/ 2nd catholic church marriage

almajc
New User

Post #1 of 2 (5392 views)

1st civil marriage/ 2nd catholic church marriage

I'm a Catholic and my fiance is non practising. We plan to marry at the end of the year in a civil ceremony (for both of us our first marriage) in Australia where his family is. And then planning to have a Catholic church wedding next summer in Canada where my family is. One of the reasons for the civil ceremony is for visa purposes inorder for me to stay and work in the UK where my fiance lives. But I have heard that the church may not marry us as they frown upon that the first marriage will be a civil ceremony. Is this true?

My partner has been baptized and understands that having a church wedding means alot to me as I'm religious and I would like our marriage to be recognized in the church and to have our children be brought up in the Catholic faith. Will the church marry us or is there any other way in which our marriage can be recognized in the church?

Can you please confirm, thank you.

(This post was edited by almajc on Sep 26, 2006, 6:15 AM)

Frieda Arpoika
CATHOLIC LAY PASTORAL MINISTER

Post #2 of 2 (5361 views)

Re: [almajc] 1st civil marriage/ 2nd catholic church marriage [In reply to]

A Catholic Church marriage is what is normally expected of baptized Catholics. There is no civil marriage required in addition to the church wedding since the Church at the same time has you take care of the papers for a civil record of the marriage.
If someone is already married by civil law and wants a Catholic marriage, then the church marriage is only a "convalidation of the vows" in the church and a pastor will not want to call it a "wedding" and will not want any of the "trimmings" like gowns, bridesmaids and all that. Only two witnesses. And if is within the first year of the civil marriage the pastor will ask you why you didn't marry in the Catholic Church in the first place. To make sure you are sincere about the church commitment he may impose a waiting period.
In other words, you can not plan two weddings. Only one. If you do decide to marry by civil law, you may need to wait at least one year before "validating" your vows in the Catholic Church and the pastor will not consider it a "wedding" but a taking of the sacramental vows in the Catholic Church -- a "convalidation". Usually just with two witnesses and family present.
Frieda Arpoika
Catholic Lay Pastoral Minister
St. Daniel Catholic Community