Sarah Mitchell
Marriage in the Catholic Church, or holy matrimony, is a covenant in which a man and woman establish a lifelong partnership. The Catholic Church requires that baptized Catholics marry before a priest or deacon, and that the marriage is a free mutual agreement. The Church also recognizes marriages between non-Catholics and Catholics, although in this case, consent from the diocesan bishop is required. A marriage of convenience, or a marriage that excludes essential parts, such as romantic feelings, is considered invalid and possibly sinful. The Church has been criticized for its inconsistent application of marriage rules, allowing some individuals to marry in the Church despite being divorced or non-practicing, while denying devoted Catholics the opportunity to marry due to divorce.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's view on marriage | The Catholic Church views all true marriages with respect and considers them binding in the eyes of God. |
| Catholic Church's recognition of marriage | The Catholic Church recognizes marriages between two non-Christians or a Catholic Christian and a non-Christian, but these are not considered sacramental. |
| Requirements for sacramental marriage | The Catholic Church requires either two baptized non-Catholic Christians or a marriage between a baptized non-Catholic Christian and a Catholic Christian, with consent from the diocesan bishop. |
| Catholic matrimonial law | Catholic matrimonial law is based on Roman law, which focuses on marriage as a free mutual agreement or contract. |
| Validity of marriage | A marriage is invalid if one party does not intend to have sex or is not committed to staying in the marriage. |
| Necessary consents | The Catholic Church requires capacity, consent, and canonical form for a valid marriage. |
| Marriage and baptism | The Catholic Church ordinarily requires baptized Roman Catholics to marry before a priest or deacon. |
| Benefits of Catholic marriage | Catholic marriage provides the power of God's grace, peace of heart, oneness with the Church, the fullness of the sacraments, and God's special blessing. |
| Previous marriages | If a Catholic wishes to marry in the Church with a previous marriage, the partner from the earlier union must have died or the Church must issue an annulment. |
| Marriage of convenience | A marriage of convenience may be allowed if both parties are baptized and express consent, but it may be considered sinful if essential parts of marriage are excluded. |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage requirements in the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church has strict requirements for marriage, which is considered a sacrament. The Church teaches that God's grace gives couples the power to keep their commitment and find happiness together. According to the Church, marriages are valid if they have three things: capacity, consent, and canonical form.
For a Catholic marriage to be considered valid, it must take place before a priest or deacon. If a Catholic couple marries in the presence of ministers from other religious traditions or civil officials, it is not considered a valid marriage in the eyes of the Church. However, the Church does recognize marriages between two non-Christians or between a Catholic and a non-Christian, though these are not considered sacramental. In the latter case, the Catholic party must seek permission from their bishop for the marriage to occur, which is called a "dispensation from disparity of cult".
If either party has been married before, the previous spouse must have died, or the Church must have issued a declaration of nullity (annulment) of the previous marriage.
A "marriage of convenience" is generally considered invalid by the Church, as it excludes essential elements of marriage, such as a commitment to fidelity or continence. If both parties are baptized, a simulated marriage may be considered a simulation of the sacrament.
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Annulment and remarriage in the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church considers marriage a sacred, lifelong bond and does not recognise divorce as a legitimate way to break that bond. A divorced Catholic cannot remarry within the Church unless they first obtain an annulment, or a declaration of nullity. This is a ruling by a Church tribunal (a Catholic Church court) that a marriage that was thought to be valid according to Church law actually fell short of at least one of the essential elements required for a binding union.
The Catholic Church presumes that every marriage is a valid union, and there must be sufficient grounds for declaring otherwise. The tribunal will help the petitioner (the person applying for the annulment) to understand what is needed to develop a case, but if there isn't enough proof, the tribunal will give a negative decision. The burden of proving the case rests on the petitioner.
To obtain an annulment, the petitioner must submit written testimony about the marriage and a list of people who are familiar with the marriage and willing to answer questions about the spouses and their relationship. If the other spouse did not co-sign the petition, the tribunal will contact them. Both parties have the option of enlisting a Church advocate to represent them, and they will have the opportunity to read their testimony before the tribunal. The tribunal will then assign a defender of the bond on behalf of the Catholic Church to list all the facts that support the marriage's validity.
The tribunal will examine whether the union reached its fullness and became all that the Church believes a marriage to be. The tribunal will look at information submitted by one or both of the former spouses to see if all the requirements for a valid marriage were present in their union. For a Catholic marriage to be valid, it is required that:
- The couple intend to marry for life, to be faithful to one another and be open to having and raising children
- Their consent is given freely and in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorised Church minister
A declaration of nullity is not the same as a civil annulment, which denies that a marriage ever existed. A Catholic annulment acknowledges that a marriage took place but states that it was not a sacrament. The Church will always say that a couple was married, but that the marriage was not valid according to Church law.
Divorce does not affect a person's status in the Catholic Church, and divorced Catholics are not excommunicated or unable to receive the sacraments. However, those who remarry without first obtaining an annulment render themselves unworthy to receive the sacrament.
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Validity of a marriage of convenience
The Catholic Church has strict requirements for recognizing a marriage as valid. Three things are needed for a marriage to be considered true or valid: capacity, consent, and canonical form. Baptized Roman Catholics are required to marry before a priest or deacon. If they marry in the presence of ministers from other religious traditions or civil officials, their marriage is not considered valid by the Catholic Church unless they received a "dispensation from canonical form".
A marriage of convenience is a marriage that serves a specific purpose or goal, such as obtaining citizenship or financial stability, rather than a traditional romantic relationship. While the Catholic Church views all true marriages with respect and considers them valid, a marriage of convenience may not meet the requirements of a valid Catholic marriage.
For a Catholic marriage to be valid, the couple must be open to having children and be faithful to each other. They must also consummate the marriage. If a couple enters a marriage with the intention of excluding these essential elements, the marriage is considered invalid. In the case of a marriage of convenience, if one or both parties do not intend to have a romantic relationship or consummate the marriage, it would likely be considered invalid by the Catholic Church.
Additionally, the Catholic Church requires that couples seeking marriage be free of any impediments, such as a previous marriage. In the case of a prior marriage, the partner from the earlier union must have died or the Church must have issued a declaration of nullity (annulment) for the new marriage to be valid.
In summary, while the Catholic Church respects all true marriages, a marriage of convenience may not meet the requirements of a valid Catholic marriage due to the exclusion of essential elements such as romantic love, physical intimacy, and the intention to have children. Each couple's situation is unique, and they should consult with their pastor or a Church tribunal to determine the validity of their marriage.
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Mixed marriages in the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church discourages mixed marriages, which are defined as marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic, because of the potential pain caused by religious differences. This pain can be felt by the spouses themselves, as well as their children, who may be confused about which religion to follow, potentially leading to weak or lost faith.
Despite this, the Church does grant dispensations for Catholics to marry non-Catholics. To obtain one, you should speak to a parish priest. Before granting a dispensation, the priest will provide instruction to the non-Catholic party on the essentials of the Catholic faith. The Catholic party will also receive instruction on their partner's beliefs. The Catholic party must declare their intention to continue practising Catholicism and promise to share their faith with any children born of the marriage, having them baptised and raised as Catholics.
The Catholic Church considers marriage to be a sacrament that makes Christ present in our world. It is also believed that God's grace helps couples keep their commitment and find happiness together. Therefore, the Church ordinarily requires baptised Roman Catholics to marry before a priest or deacon. Without a "dispensation from canonical form", Catholics who exchange vows in the presence of ministers from other religious traditions or civil officials are not considered validly married in the eyes of the Church.
For Catholics with a prior marriage outside the Church, a declaration of nullity, or annulment, is required. This is based on a "lack of canonical form".
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The sacrament of marriage
Marriage in the Catholic Church, also known as holy matrimony, is a covenant by which a man and a woman enter into a lifelong partnership. It is a sacrament that makes Christ present in our world. The Catholic Church considers marriage one of the seven sacraments, which are signs or symbols that reveal the Lord Jesus and through which his divine life and love are communicated.
The Catholic Church views all true marriages with respect and presumes that they are valid. It recognizes as sacramental the marriages between two baptized non-Catholic Christians, as well as marriages between baptized non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians. In the latter case, consent from the diocesan bishop must be obtained, termed "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage". Although the Catholic Church recognizes marriages between two non-Christians or between a Catholic Christian and a non-Christian, these are not considered sacramental. In the case of a Catholic Christian marrying a non-Christian, permission from the bishop is required, known as a "dispensation from disparity of cult".
To be considered valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church, Catholic matrimonial law requires baptized Roman Catholics to marry before a priest or deacon. If they exchange vows in the presence of ministers from other religious traditions or civil officials without first obtaining a “dispensation from canonical form”, their marriage is not considered valid.
While the Catholic Church upholds the ideal of lifelong marriage, it acknowledges the realities of modern family life, which have changed dramatically. Some Catholics may find themselves in situations where they have a prior marriage outside the Church or are unable to obtain an annulment. In these cases, the Church offers the possibility of a declaration of nullity, which can be sought through consultation with their pastor.
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Frequently asked questions
A marriage of convenience is a marriage that is entered into for practical reasons rather than romantic love.
The Catholic Church views all true marriages with respect and presumes that they are valid. However, the Church requires that certain conditions be met for a marriage to be considered sacramental. These conditions include capacity, consent, and canonical form.
A sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church is a covenant between a baptized man and woman who freely express their consent to establish a partnership for life. The marriage is ordinarily held in a Catholic church and presided over by a priest or deacon.
In the Catholic Church, if there has been a previous marriage for either party, the partner from the previous union must have died or the Church must have issued a declaration of nullity (annulment) for the new marriage to be considered valid.
One notable example is the marriage of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was twice-divorced and allowed to remarry in a Catholic church, despite the Church's traditional rules against divorce.
