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Catholics/Marriage with a Jehovah's Witness Mother-in-Law
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Question
Hello Father and thank you for taking the time to read my question,
My fiance (Lauren) and I are planning on getting married next September. We would like to get married by a priest in the church I grew up in. However, we run into a roadblock as Lauren's mother is a Jehovah's Witness. This bars her from entering the church, and it also means that we need to have a ceremony that is free of religion. She has, however, said that she has no problem attending when readings are a part of the ceremony.
Our question is this: would it still be possible for our priest to marry us in a non-denominational chapel without it being a Catholic ceremony? Does he have to conduct a Catholic ceremony in a church?
Also, my fiance is not yet a Catholic, although she intends on starting the procedure to become one. Does that present a roadblock?
Again, thank you for your time, and God bless you,
Chris (and Lauren)
Hi, Chris:
Thanks for the question.
Once you start your marriage prep with a Catholic Priest, be certain to ask him about this. I do not think that a Catholic Priest would be the one to carry out the wedding in a non-denominational chapel without using a Catholic Liturgical Rite. I know that if I were the Priest in a situation as you describe, I would feel very uncomfortable being the one to officiate and receive the vows.
You might look into getting a "dispensation from canonical form", provided that your fiance is not Catholic... You only told me that her mother is Jehova's witness, and did not state Lauren's religious beliefs or affiliation.
If Lauren's mother is an ex-Catholic Jehova's Witness, then I would say GET MARRIED IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH WITH A CATHOLIC PRIEST USING A CATHOLIC RITE, and invite her mother back to the Catholic Church.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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