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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Interfaith Marriage	Anne	Tuesday, September 7, 2004
Question: Should parents, grand parents, sibblings, families go to this marriage? All are strong practicing Catholics. The daughter, who just graduated this year, is engaged to a anti-catholic fundamentalist, so is his family. The family has tried to "save" the catholic family by making improper visits. The daughter is blind to all, and will be married outside the Church that she left about six months ago. Now comes the question: Should the girl's family attend the wedding at all? In the eyes of God, those who are ignorant of the teachings of the Church, can they be held responsible for such a choice? Is the daugther in fault if she doesn't know that the Catholic Church is the True Church of Christ? This young girl asked the deacon in the parish, a friend of the family, if she could get married in the catholic church. He asked her if she is practicing the faith; she said no, and he told her he cannot help her. The deacon is right. The family has tried to explain to her that the Church will not recognize her marriage if she is not practicing... and she is deaf to all. Can you please comment. Thank you and God bless you for all you do. Anne
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Anne: I think this girl needs to understand the seriousness of the wrong she is doing. If you indulge or support her in this bad decision then how will she understand this? If is was me, I would not attend this invalid wedding. As to the question of Catholic teaching, the future husband cannot be expected to know or understand Catholic teaching on marriage. This woman, on the other hand, has been told directly, according to your post, what the Church thinks about this. Thus she has no excuse. In any event, a Catholic marrying outside of the Church is marrying invalidly. This sin should not be indulged or supported. The Church teaches that if we see someone sinning, are in a position to say or do something about it, and do not say or do that "something", then we are an accomplice to that other person's sin. In the end this is a matter of your conscience. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Interfaith Marriage

Anne

Tuesday, September 7, 2004

Question:

Should parents, grand parents, sibblings, families go to this marriage? All are strong practicing Catholics.

The daughter, who just graduated this year, is engaged to a anti-catholic fundamentalist, so is his family. The family has tried to "save" the catholic family by making improper visits. The daughter is blind to all, and will be married outside the Church that she left about six months ago.

Now comes the question:

Should the girl's family attend the wedding at all? In the eyes of God, those who are ignorant of the teachings of the Church, can they be held responsible for such a choice? Is the daugther in fault if she doesn't know that the Catholic Church is the True Church of Christ?

This young girl asked the deacon in the parish, a friend of the family, if she could get married in the catholic church. He asked her if she is practicing the faith; she said no, and he told her he cannot help her. The deacon is right.

The family has tried to explain to her that the Church will not recognize her marriage if she is not practicing... and she is deaf to all. Can you please comment. Thank you and God bless you for all you do. Anne

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Anne:

I think this girl needs to understand the seriousness of the wrong she is doing. If you indulge or support her in this bad decision then how will she understand this?

If is was me, I would not attend this invalid wedding.

As to the question of Catholic teaching, the future husband cannot be expected to know or understand Catholic teaching on marriage. This woman, on the other hand, has been told directly, according to your post, what the Church thinks about this. Thus she has no excuse.

In any event, a Catholic marrying outside of the Church is marrying invalidly. This sin should not be indulged or supported.

The Church teaches that if we see someone sinning, are in a position to say or do something about it, and do not say or do that "something", then we are an accomplice to that other person's sin.

In the end this is a matter of your conscience.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum