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And Now I'm Flabergasted


Brother Adam

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As for the sin issue, it's much like an annulment. If you truly are not validly married, but thought you were, it's the same for a couple who had an annulment. They were never really married in the first place, but were not aware of this. Therefore, while they were technically sinning, they had no consciousness of it, and therefore the sin is not mortal.

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homeschoolmom

Adam and Teresa were baptized Catholics as infants. Both families subsequently left the Church while they were children. Ultimately, they were married in a Baptist church. They are now preparing to be confirmed in the Catholic Church. They come to find out that their marriage may not be sacramental in the eyes of the Church.

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IcePrincessKRS

I think I'm going to stay out of this thread until Adam and Teresa post in it again... I feel kind of weird talking about this without them... but thats just me. lol

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Outside of Catholic marriages, which marriages does the Catholic Church recognize as valid marriages (Lutheran, Methodist, etc?)

People who are not Catholic (and never have been) can and do enter marriages that are licit and valid, and binding for life in the eyes of the Catholic Church, provided that there is no obstacle (such as a previous marriage) to the union. Non-Catholics who are not baptized do not receive a sacrament (since no sacraments are valid except for the baptized) but enter a solemn, sacred and binding marriage contract between a man, a woman and God. Baptized non-Catholics possibly receive a sacrament, but since most Protestant religions do not recognize marriage as a sacrament, but only a "holy ordinance" or something like that, it would be doubtful if a non-Catholic who did not recognize matrimony as a sacrament would actually then receive a sacrament. In any event, for such people marriage is at least a solemn, lifelong, binding and sacred contract.

Reprinted from February 14, 1997

[url="http://www.dioceseoflincoln.org/purple/marriages/marriages1.htm#11"]http://www.dioceseoflincoln.org/purple/mar...rriages1.htm#11[/url]

---I maintain that Bro. Adam never formally left the Church; he was taken out against his will, so to speak, and as soon as he saw the call from the Lord, he reconciled. Yes, he was baptised Catholic and received first communion, but left before he had the mental capacity to understand what he was leaving.

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Hi Bro. Adam,

That's a tough situation. I agree that you could probably ask EWTN about it. You didn't know that the marriage could have been invalid, so I doubt you were sinning when having relations with Teresa. I think I recall reading that if you renounced your Catholicism and got married in a non-Catholic church without dispensation, it might be valid on the basis of your rejection of Catholicism. I'm not 100% sure about this, but I'll look it up and see what I can find.

In the meantime, pray! (And keep your chin up!)

God bless,

Jen

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homeschoolmom

[quote name='DojoGrant' date='Jun 17 2004, 08:40 PM'] I don't think it's fair to refer to Brother Adam as a deserter of the Church, thus rejecting the requirements for a valid sacramental marriage. And two Protestants (unknowing of the requirements set forth in the Latin/Eastern rites) who are married before the Lord receive a Sacramental marriage, am I not right? [/quote]
Are you saying it's unfair for the Church to discribe them thusly, because I don't think any of us are...

Two cradle Protestants who are both baptized who marry in a Christian church (within the actual building) have a sacramental marriage. At least this is my understanding.

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I'm saying while it is true that Adam has been Catholic all this time, he is not culpable for his lack of knowledge, just like a protestant raised in a non-Catholic tradition. It was not his fault he did not know of the requirements for a valid Catholic marriage. It would seem like he would receive the same automatic dispensation.

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homeschoolmom

I would think so, too. I agree with you. They shouldn't be blamed... they had no knowledge.

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[quote]Two cradle Protestants who are both baptized who marry in a Christian church (within the actual building) have a sacramental marriage[/quote].

Marriage isn't recognised as a Sacrament in many protestant churches HSMom.... Anglicans have Baptism and Holy Communion as Sacraments for example and marriage is an ordinance - a 'lesser' sacrament....
I suspect that only the Orthodox would view it as a sacrament on the same level as the other sacraments.

Incidently I'm NOT suggesting by this that marriage is viewed as being 'less' in protestant churches....just differently interms of how sacraments are viewed!

And I also agree with IcePrincess...it feels a little weird discussing this.......

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homeschoolmom

[quote name='Ellenita' date='Jun 17 2004, 09:02 PM'] .

Marriage isn't recognised as a Sacrament in many protestant churches HSMom.... Anglicans have Baptism and Holy Communion as Sacraments for example and marriage is an ordinance - a 'lesser' sacrament....
I suspect that only the Orthodox would view it as a sacrament on the same level as the other sacraments. [/quote]
Sorry... to clarify, two baptized Protestants who marry in a Christian church who THEN BECOME CATHOLIC have a sacramental marriage...

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Hi Bro. Adam,

[url="http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=383984&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=3000&Author=&Keyword=valid+marriage&pgnu=1&groupnum=0"]This[/url] might be of some help to you. It's from EWTN.

God bless,

Jen

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If two Islamic people are married, and they consumate the marriage, have they sinned? How about to non-Christian, non-religious people who are civilly married?

In other words, is a civil marriage sufficient grounds in the eyes of the Catholic Church to consumate the marriage, or must it be sacramental to warrent valid consumation without sin?

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[quote name='BeenaBobba' date='Jun 17 2004, 09:06 PM'] Hi Bro Adams,

[url="http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=383984&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=3000&Author=&Keyword=valid+marriage&pgnu=1&groupnum=0"]This[/url] might be of some help to you. It's from EWTN.

God bless,

Jen [/quote]
That's it exactly! That seems to settle the debate.

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homeschoolmom

[quote name='DojoGrant' date='Jun 17 2004, 09:09 PM'] That's it exactly! That seems to settle the debate. [/quote]
Ironically, bad news for the guy asking the question, good news for A and T... :)

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