Expert: Fr. Michael - 4/12/2005

Question
Hello Fr. Moderator, I have a question regarding a person who is married but not through the church.  This person needed to recieve the sacrament of confirmation.  She joined and completed the RCIA this Easter.  She has a strong desire to have her marraige convalidated so she can recieve communion.  The problem is her husband (an alcholic) may not want to be involved in the instructions for convalidation.  Can her marriage be convalidated without him being that involved or not involved in the class if he refuses cooperation?  

Answer
What you have relayed sounds quite mixed up.  You indicate that she may be living in a state of sin with her marriage, yet she "did" RCIA, including "Confirmation."

I have to warn you that RCIA is not part of the Roman Catholic Church, but of the New Order Religion, which came about after Vatican II, and is quite mixed up.

You could do her a favor by getting her out of that environment and into a traditionally Catholic environment.  See www.traditio.com/tradlib/masslat.txt for such locations in your area.