Expert: Tom Schott - 1/9/2005

Question
i have been on the rcia team for 5 yrs. this is the first time this has come up.i hope it's not to long. we have a couple who are going through rcia. they live togeather, she's pregnant,and will be when she is confirmed and receive the Euchrist at the easter vigil.they will not be married at the time she receives the sacraments.
she has been baptized in another faith so that means she must go to confession before she receives the sacraments.
i think this is wrong. this is a "scandel" in the church. how can the church allow her to received these 2 sacraments while "living in sin". if the church let's her receive these sacraments i think it should be done in private.not in front of the whole parish. i know this is being judgemental, i don't know whats' in her heart but i still beleive it's wrong.
can you help?
is there church law about this?
thanks

Answer
There's no "Church law" to govern this situation. But I would think the problem could be easily solved by having the marriage precede Easter Vigil. If that is not possible, then I would not allow her the sacraments until the marriage is done. That is the practice in our parish, but pastoral practice varies from place to place. I cannot imagine that any conscientious pastor would allow this to happen. I agree with you that the whole thing doesn't look good.

Deacon Tom