Catholics/CATHOLIC MARRIAGE

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 1/4/2009


Question
Hi, I have a situation I need some advice on. I have a son from a previous relationship. He is three years old. I am engaged to be married with a date set of May 8th to a man that is not my son's father. My son's father is giving up rights and allowing my future husband to adopt our son. Our court date has been moved up before the our wedding date. The question is if we were to be married in a courthouse in the meantime to allow the adoption process to continue, will we still be able to have our celebration of vows in the Catholic church on May 8th?

Answer
Hi, Jennifer:
Thanks for the question.
You would need to check with the local Catholic Parish within your Diocese and present your circumstances, and see what they can do for you.  My understanding and experience is that the Church will often not touch the marriage situation until about 1-year after any civil marriage takes place.  In addition, May 8th is pretty soon since it is only about 4 1/2 months away.  By the time the marriage prep is undertaken, and certain classes taken, the process is usually about 6 to 9 months.  So, like I say, you would need to check with the local authorities in light of your particular needs and situation.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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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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