Catholics/Question of marriage

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 9/21/2010


Question
Dear Fr,

I am a baptised, never-been-married Catholic girl, wishing to marry a divorced Hindu man who was married in a Hindu wedding ceremony. Can you please tell me if this Hindu marriage is considered valid in the eyes of the church; and whether or not I will allowed to have a catholic wedding.

Thank you,
Christi

Answer
Hi, Christi:
Thanks for the question.
The Hindu man, because he was never baptized, did not have a sacramental marriage.  There might be just cause for that marriage to be dissolved in favor of the faith.  You would need to go through the regular necessary marriage prep in the local Catholic Parish where you are currently practicing your Catholic Faith and living a Catholic life of prayer, regular attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, and periodic celebration of the Sacrament of Confession.  The Church is more interested in guiding you to live out the Sacrament of Marriage (not just a wedding ceremony), and to live your Baptismal Vocation as a Christian person.  I encourage you to "seek first the Kingdom of God, and then all these things will be added to you."

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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