Q & A: Church Teaching on Marriage

Question: What is the Church's view on Marriage. Are they against couples that are not both Catholic? Can a Catholic marry a non-Catholic and still have the marriage blessed and not living in sin?

Answer: Marriage is a part of God’s plan for human existence (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1602). It is the joining together of one man and one woman, freely choosing each other, until death. Marriage is the foundation of the family and family is the foundation of all society. As mentioned in a previous Q&A, the purpose of marriage is procreative and unitive, meaning that marriage bonds the spouses to each other in a special way (CCC#1638) and that this bond of love between should be open to the fruitfulness of children. The overall purpose is to help the other spouse to achieve holiness and to welcome and educate children in the life of grace. As with all things in life: the point is getting to heaven.

 

Here is the section from the Catechism dealing with your questions about mixed marriages, etc:

 

{Mixed marriages and disparity of cult

 

1633 In many countries the situation of a mixed marriage (marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic) often arises. It requires particular attention on the part of couples and their pastors. A case of marriage with disparity of cult (between a Catholic and a non-baptized person) requires even greater circumspection.

 

1634 Difference of confession between the spouses does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle for marriage, when they succeed in placing in common what they have received from their respective communities, and learn from each other the way in which each lives in fidelity to Christ. But the difficulties of mixed marriages must not be underestimated. They arise from the fact that the separation of Christians has not yet been overcome. The spouses risk experiencing the tragedy of Christian disunity even in the heart of their own home. Disparity of cult can further aggravate these difficulties. Differences about faith and the very notion of marriage, but also different religious mentalities, can become sources of tension in marriage, especially as regards the education of children. The temptation to religious indifference can then arise.

 

1635 According to the law in force in the Latin Church, a mixed marriage needs for liceity the express permission of ecclesiastical authority.137 In case of disparity of cult an express dispensation from this impediment is required for the validity of the marriage.138 This permission or dispensation presupposes that both parties know and do not exclude the essential ends and properties of marriage; and furthermore that the Catholic party confirms the obligations, which have been made known to the non-Catholic party, of preserving his or her own faith and ensuring the baptism and education of the children in the Catholic Church.139

 

1636 Through ecumenical dialogue Christian communities in many regions have been able to put into effect a common pastoral practice for mixed marriages. Its task is to help such couples live out their particular situation in the light of faith, overcome the tensions between the couple's obligations to each other and towards their ecclesial communities, and encourage the flowering of what is common to them in faith and respect for what separates them.

 

1637 In marriages with disparity of cult the Catholic spouse has a particular task: "For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband."140 It is a great joy for the Christian spouse and for the Church if this "consecration" should lead to the free conversion of the other spouse to the Christian faith.141 Sincere married love, the humble and patient practice of the family virtues, and perseverance in prayer can prepare the non-believing spouse to accept the grace of conversion.}

 

To read more about the awesome sacrament of Marriage, go to http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c3a7.htm#1663 and begin reading at paragraph # 1601.

 

 

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