Dear Catholic Exchange:
My wife and I were married several years ago by my grandfather, who is a Protestant minister (Assemblies of God). My wife was baptized into the Catholic Church as a child, but was raised Evangelical. I was baptized and raised in various denominations of Protestants. Over the past two years, I have been finally, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, making my way towards Rome. This fall I am planning to go through the steps to become a member of the visible Church of Christ, but my wife is still unsure (being a staunch feminist). I was wondering how this would affect my conversion process. Will I still be able to participate in the Mass if my wife is not a Catholic? Will our marriage need to be blessed by the Church to make it official? What does the process look like in my case?
Curtis
Dear Curtis,
Peace in Christ!
Generally speaking, Catholics are required to marry in the Catholic Church in marriage ceremonies that adhere to what is known as canonical form. When a Catholic marries outside the Church (i.e. before a minister of another denomination, a justice of the peace etc.) without permission of the local bishop, the Church generally does not recognize the marriage as valid.
Non-Catholics however are not held to the same standard in the eyes of the Catholic Church. If two baptized non-Catholics marry, their marriage is presumed by the Church to be valid and sacramental. If that couple wished to join the Catholic Church after they were married elsewhere, no “blessing” (technically called “convalidation”) would normally be needed.
The issue would turn largely on whether your bishop or your diocesan marriage tribunal considered your wife to be Catholic or not. If she were reckoned to be a fallen away Catholic, a convalidation would probably be necessary. If, on the other hand, her life circumstances represented a formal defection from the Catholic faith, the marriage would be presumed to be valid and you could be admitted to the sacraments of initiation (usually after attending some religious instruction).
Unfortunately, this is one question that cannot be answered by an e-mail. Every case is different and the canonical norms for marriage are very complex. The best and really only advice we could give is to seek advice from a parish priest who normally is quite experienced working with cases such as yours. After gathering necessary information, he will (if necessary) refer your case to the diocesan marriage tribunal. Let us pray, however, that both you and your wife will come home to the Catholic Church. This would make many of the above issues somewhat academic.
United in the Faith,
Pete Brown
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
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