Catholics/Marriage validity

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 11/14/2007


Question
I am on the RCIA team at our Catholic Church.  Last night's discussion was the Sacrament of Marriage.  The main question was from a couple who are currently Episcopalian and are going through the process to become Catholic.  They were married by a minister in their Church, but do they now need to have it convalidated??

Answer
Hi, Lisa:
Thanks for the question.
In such a case, it will be necessary only to determine whether they were lawfully married in the first place.  This means you need to find out whether it is the FIRST marriage for each.  As Episcopalians, they would not have been bound by "Canonical Form" since they were not in communion with the Catholic Church at the time of their marriage.
However, if either was married to another prior to their current marriage, then this would open up matter to be taken to the Catholic Marriage Tribunal with jurisdiction in the case.  The Catholic Church does not recognize the proceedings of "Episcopalian Tribunals" - just in case this were a factor.
If there are no "complications" in regard to a present "lawful" marriage, then all that will need to be done is that when they are received into full communion with the Catholic Church, they will need to be notated in the Catholic Parish Baptismal Register where they had been baptized originally as Episcopalians (as they most likely would not need to undergo baptism again; unless there is some reason to believe that their "Episcopalian Baptism" was invalid due to form, matter, or intention); also to be notated would be that they were "formally" received into full communion with the Catholic Church; notated also would be their Confirmation and First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. (The Catholic Church does not recognize the validity of Episcopalian Confirmations).
Lastly, their Marriage would need to be notated into the Baptismal Register; and this would NOT be considered either a "convalidation" or a "sanation."  It would be considered valid (provided it was lawful in the first place) from the date they went through a marriage ceremony and exchanged vows.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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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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