Sacramental Marriage Vs.

[Jake Huether]

I know a couple that has been married for 25 years civily. They were baptised and raised Catholic, and they have baptised and raised their children Catholic. But they have never had their marriage recognized by the Church (which God willing they will soon).

My question is: Are they living in sin? Or does the Church acknowledge this as a "Marriage" so that they aren't commiting the particular sin of Fornication?

Must it be a Sacramental Marriage in order for the two to have marrital relations?

I do understand that in the Sacrament of Marriage one recieves Sacramental Grace. But I'm not sure I fully understand the implications of both, the logistics I suppose.

Thanks.

[cappie]

The Code of Canon Law says:

Can 1055 #1 The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of their whole life, and which of its very nature is ordered to the well -being of the sposes and to the procreation und upbringing of children, has, between the baptised, been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.

#2 Consequently, a valid marriage cannot exist between baptised persons without its being by that very fact a sacrament.

Can 1108 #1 Only those marriages are valid which are contracted in the presence of the local Ordinary(Bishop) or parish priest or of the priest or deacon deligated by either of them, who, in the presence of two witnesses, assists, in accordance with the rules set out.....

It wouls seem unless there was an exception they would be objectively living in sin however one would need to know all the facts. Hard to imagine, but some people who are even practicising Catholics are in fact ignorant of what I wouold call even some of the most basic rules of teh Catholic Church