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Hello, I am a Non-Denominational Christian that is engaged to a Catholic. We are already expecting out first child in just a few weeks. We have agreed to raise our children as Catholics even though i most likely won't be converting. My main question is, can we marry in a catholic church if we already have children out of wedlock, and if we go to the court house to legally marry can we still have a catholic cerimony?
Hi, Linsey:
Thanks for the question.
In order to marry in the Catholic Church, you and your fiance need to present yourselves to a Catholic Parish Church for marriage prep. If I am not mistaken, if you go ahead and get married at the court house, the Church will not touch the matter for at least a year. Of course the consequences for the Catholic is that he will not be in good-standing with the Church, and the marriage is not recognized as valid and sacramental.
Somehow I get the feeling that he probably is not much of a regular practicing Catholic anyway?
But if it is important to him, and to both of you really, then you ought to simply present yourselves for marriage by the authority of the Catholic Church the first time around. Of course you both have to be actually FREE to MARRY. One important factor to be mindful of is whether this is the first marriage for either of you... if not, you will need to look at the anullment process.
I wish you the very best. There is not much I can do for you over the net - just to encourage you to seek marriage prep in person at your local Catholic Parish.
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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