Expert: Charlie B - 1/6/2009

Question
Hello,

I am a practicing protestant and my fiance-to-be is a practicing Catholic. In fact, my father is a protestant minister and her mother is highly involved in her parish's church. We would like to be married in her Catholic church but I would like for my father, a protestant minister, to be actively involved in the ceremony - more than just a reading.

Is there any way for us to be wed in a catholic church, even if it means some sort of altered nuptial ceremony?

Thank you!

Answer
Kyle,
Thanks for your question.  Getting married is the second best thing that will happen to you!   The first? ..having children, in my opinion.

I'm going to have to defer to your local Catholic priest to make that determination involving your father beyond the readings.  My own sense is if you wed in a Catholic Church, they won't alter the ceremony much ... but ask and find out for yourself.

By the way, I'm a protestant Convert to Catholicism as well (Methodist, having married a cradle Catholic) and let me recommend three books for you to read over the coming months and year:
- Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid
- Rome Sweet Rome by Dr. Scott Hahn
- Crossing the Tiber by Stephen Ray

God bless,
Charlie