AboutBrad Varvil Expertise I am happy to field questions regarding Lutheran theology and practice, and it's context
within the western catholic tradition. General questions on the Christian faith are also
welcome.
Experience I have served in lay ministry for over ten years, and am currently a pastor in a small, confessional Lutheran communion in the Evangelical Catholic tradition. I have worked with several Lutheran and non-Lutheran communions over the years, and have a particular fondness for catholic ecumenism.
Education/Credentials I have a BA in Religion and Philosophy from a small midwestern Lutheran college, and am completing an M.Div. at a small, independent, Lutheran seminary in the Pacific Northwest.
My sisters and I were raised Catholic and in our early teens were baptized at a Lutheran church (for some unknown reason). Well, my youngest sister is soon to be married to a baptized/confirmed Catholic. However, her fiance's priest refuses to marry them in a traditional Catholic ceremony because my sister isn't baptized Catholic.
What reasons would a Catholic church have to not marry them? From what i've read, Lutheran and Catholic beliefs are quite similar.
Answer Dear Joanna,
So long as baptism is done in the name of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and with water, just about every Christian communion on the planet will recognize the efficacy of that baptism. This is especially so between Lutherans and Romans.
Not knowing the details of your sister's situation, I can only guess at the priest's angst... but I doubt it is rooted in the baptism issue. Usually, Roman Catholic priests will require some kind of signed statement from a couple that are not both Roman, that they intend to raise their children Roman Catholic. Without that commitment, Roman Catholic priests will sometimes refrain from marrying them. There could be a slew of other reasons, valid or invalid from a Roman canon law perspective, but I'd guess it has more to do with the future intentions of the couple relative to the Roman communion than anything to do with validity of baptism.
That's my best attempt-- hope it helps.
Of course, we don't have nearly so many restrictions/laws in the Lutheran communions... just the guidance of Holy Scripture. As long as the couple were within the bounds of Scripture, a Lutheran priest or pastor would likely be happy to support such a wedding.
