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Question
Me and my fiance want to get married in the catholic church.he is in the army and we want to get married when he gets home but he wants to get married in a courthouse so we can get a house on post before we have a wedding. can you get married in a court and then get married in a church?
Hi, Alexandra:
Merry Christmas, and thanks for the question.
I think that it helps in a situation as you describe to speak in terms of getting married "by the authority of the Catholic Church" as a Catholic, as opposed to the details of the service or ceremony in a church building as such...
There is at least a theoretical possibility of two people (at least one being Catholic) getting married with a "Dispensation from Canonical Form." You would need to present your circumstances at the local Catholic Church or the Diocese that has jurisdiction where you wish the wedding ceremony to take place. If you either one of you is truly connected in faith and practice as Catholics in the Catholic Church, then this should not seem difficult or unusual for you. I encourage you to present your case in person to the Parish Priest or other authority in your region to get some guidance in this issue.
Any marriage that is lawful in the Catholic Church, and is entered into with good faith, is a valid and lawful Catholic Marriage in whatever external form it takes; but you would want to check to make certain that you get all necessary permissions and/or dispensations. If you don't, then a marriage in a courthouse is INVALID for a Catholic.
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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