Q: I am planning to be married in the near future. Does the best man and maid of honor have to be practicing Catholics?
A: The best man or maid of honor does not have to be a practicing Catholic, or even a Catholic, for that matter. The Church’s official witness at a marriage is the priest, whose responsibility is to ask for and receive the consent of both parties. The function of the other two witnesses — usually […]
What are the Catholic Laws on Marriage and Divorce?
The Catholic attitude on marriage is not debatable for anyone who is really willing to live by the doctrine of the Scriptures. Here are some of the Biblical references to marriage: “Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she […]
What is marriage?
Marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love. They commit themselves completely to each other and to the wondrous responsibility of bringing children into the world and caring for them. The call to marriage is woven deeply […]
Question: I have a nephew in Wisconsin, who happens to be godfather to our daughter. He’s marrying a Protestant girl in July, and I’m afraid it won’t be in the local Catholic Church. It’s killing me that he probably didn’t get enough training on the “true” faith as a boy, and he thinks it’s just so great that his girl is so spiritual and good (Bible Christian). What would common wisdom dictate about whether or not we should go to the wedding?
Answer: Jesus, who is God, elevated marriage to the level of a sacrament so that God’s grace would be available to help married couples be faithful to each other always. He also established a Church with the authority to set the rules and regulations for marriage. (Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be […]
Prepare yourself for the ‘Marriage Debate’
CATHOLIC CIVIL RIGHTS LEAGUE Each of us has a responsibility to give reasons for our beliefs. That same-sex relationships are not marriages can be understood and defended by rational people. We have summarized the debate into four strong arguments supporting marriage, four counter arguments to typical pro-homosexual “marriage” challenges, and four responses to red-herring arguments […]
One Man, One Woman
ROBERT P. GEORGE The case for preserving the definition of marriage. Last week, in its ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts by a vote of 4-3 struck down that state’s marriage law as “failing to meet the rational basis test for either due process or equal protection.” The […]
Divorce in Canon Law and Holy Scripture
Divorce, in canon law, signifies the dissolution of the marriage bond or the permanent separation of the parties, the bond remaining. A valid Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any cause except death. Mal. 2:14-16 – You ask, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness to the covenant […]
What is considered a valid marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church?
The Church teaches, as does Jesus in Mt 19:9, that every Christian marriage is indissoluble except by the death of one of the spouses. No power on earth can dissolve a ratified and consummated union of two baptized Christians (one in which vows have been validly exchanged and which has been later consummated by intercourse). […]
I overheard part of a conversation between a priest and a parishioner at my church where the priest said the Church frowned upon mixed marriages; isn’t that racism?
Victor R. Claveau, MJ It appears that you may have misunderstood the conversation. Mixed marriage refers only to a sacramental union between a Catholic and any baptized non-Catholic. In the 1917 Code of Canon Law, it was referred to as marriage of mixed religion. Although the marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic is […]
What is the truth about Same-sex marriage?
Victor R. Claveau, MJ Answer. Homosexuals can enter into civil contracts without restriction and do not have to be “married” to do so. A contract can be made where two or more people agree on a course of action, but there the matter may end. Not so with marriage. The marrying partners not only agree […]