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Question
My son married his Filapina wife in 2007 as she came over to USA to satisfy INS requirements to get her status as permanent legal resident. Now, they are in Philippines hoping to get married in her church by local priest. This priest wants the Certificate of Freedom as my son is not RC. He has never been married before, has been baptized as baby in Protestant Church, never has had any children. I contacted the Diocese in Portland, Maine and was told no such form, but for my husband and I to go to a notary public and swear that no impediments to our son getting married in the Roman Catholic Church exist. Do you think this will work with the priest in Philippines or is there any other advice or where to get forms that you can help us with? The wedding is on Jan 5, 2010. Help, please. Thank you.
Hi, Sarah:
Thanks for the question.
The form you asked from your local Diocese ought to exist, I would think. Perhaps they were confused, or did not understand your question. In my Diocese, for example, there is are forms C & D for giving testimony to the freedom of somebody to marry. If such forms do not exist in other Dioceses, this is something of which I was not aware. I can only recommend that maybe you call a few Dioceses to check into the matter, and present your findings to Portland, ME. I certainly hope you can get some results, and I wish you the very best in your attempts to help your son get together his necessary paperwork.
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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