When is a “Natural Marriage” a Valid Marriage?

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Cathy Caridi

Q: I am engaged to a non-baptized person and he is not willing to be baptized to marry me in the Catholic Church, as he thinks it is hypocritical. I would like some advice regarding whether or not there is effectively “any point” from a Catholic perspective in having a non-sacramental marriage vs a blessing following a civil ceremony.

My fiancé says he is an atheist.  I still believe in God and the fundamentals of Catholicism.  I’ve heeded the warnings, don’t worry, but we share exactly the same moral views … [and] my fiancé is willing to raise our children as Catholic.

Anyway, I have read your website on Canon Law and understand that if I marry a non-baptized person that it is then just a “natural marriage.”  If this is the case, then is there any real benefit from the Catholic point of view in marrying in a Church if the marriage is not recognized as a Catholic marriage?  I wondered what the difference is really, if at all, from a non-sacramental marriage and a civil ceremony with a blessing afterwards? … Whilst your website is very helpful, I have not as yet come across anything to suggest that there is really any benefit in the eyes of God between a blessing following a civil ceremony and a non-sacramental marriage. –Aisha Continue reading →

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Homeschooling and Catechetics (Part II)

Posted on October 17, 2024 by Cathy Caridi

Q:  I’m trying to get my son confirmed, but I have to send him to the baptist non-Catholic youth ministry (sic).  Why is it called Catholic youth ministry (CYM)?  Why don’t the children have catechism anymore?  I am homeschooling my child and we read the Baltimore catechism every day.…  I come each Wednesday night with our children because we are worried what non-Catholic material they are going to force on our children.   The only time my children’s innocence is compromised is at our Catholic youth ministry.

I tried to explain to our priest that they don’t teach the faith at all at the CYM classes.  He disagrees with me.  The policy states that a child must start CYM in September and go thru April in order to be confirmed and if the child misses more than 2 days, then they will not be confirmed.  So since I love my child and attend the CYM every week, the head of CYM is irate with me for sitting in the class and because I have my other 3 children in the same class since I’m afraid of what the other teachers will teach them and I can’t be in 4 places at one time.  My children’s ages are 12, 11 and 9 and are in the class but don’t say a word and are as good as gold.  By the way, there isn’t any Catholic learning material in the classroom except a bible.  Why can’t catechism be taught in catechism class?  I am the one who has suffered day in and day out by homeschooling, taking the children to daily Mass, taking them to first Fridays, to first Saturdays, we are consecrated to Jesus thru Mary, we pray the divine mercy chaplet daily, and the rosary daily.

The head of CYM is now forcing me to take the stupid Virtus training since I sit in the class with my child.…  I feel like my rights have been so violated with the CYM making me have criminal background check for sitting with my children at class.  There is always an adult teacher in the room so what’s the big deal… I am not a teacher or a volunteer or an employee.  Why are they harassing me so? –Cindy Continue reading →

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When Can a Catholic Church Charge Visitors an Entrance Fee?

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Cathy Caridi

Q:  During a visit to a city in Europe, we went to attend evening Mass at the city’s cathedral. During the day, it is visited by many tourists and has an entrance fee to support the maintenance of the building.

Upon entering the building we were stopped by an employee who asked why we were there as visiting hours were ending and tickets were not being sold. We said we wanted to attend Mass and were told Mass was in the downstairs chapel. Indeed, there was a Mass in English taking place in a lower chapel, at the same time as Mass in the upper church in the local language. We pointed to the website with the schedule but were told by multiple employees there was no Mass upstairs. While attending the Mass in English, we heard Mass taking place upstairs (bells and organ) and we later saw other people leaving the upstairs Mass.

We were dressed conservatively and my wife even had a mantilla. Looking at internet reviews of the basilica, it seems that tourists are often redirected away from Mass.  There were groups of non-English speakers at the Mass we attended, so it does not seem that the employees were simply trying to be helpful by directing us to Mass in English.

Does canon law provide for preventing certain groups from attending Mass?  Who would one contact if there is a violation taking place?  And, if I may ask another question, although this was not our issue: could a church have a required entrance fee during Mass? –Ryan Continue reading →

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How Can Arranged Marriages be Valid?

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Cathy Caridi

Q: While doing journalistic research recently, I was shocked to discover that even in this day and age, there are some countries and cultures where parents still arrange their children’s marriages.  The bride and groom don’t know each other, and often haven’t spoken to each other or even seen each other before the wedding ceremony.

The practice seems to constitute a chronic human-rights violation in the civil arena.  I understand that if the two families involved are not Catholic, then canon law can’t declare that the arranged marriage is invalid, but what about those arranged marriages where at least one spouse is Catholic?  I don’t see how a Catholic priest can officiate at such a wedding, and yet I have found that it does happen! … What is going on here, and has the Vatican tried to stop it? –Jonathan Continue reading →

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How Are Religious Institutes Obliged to Support Members Who Leave?

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Cathy Caridi

Q: My work includes much interaction with women religious. Is there any guidance in canon law that provides for a religious who professed vows with their institute and then had to leave?  I thought that canon law required a certain amount of care to be given to help the religious who were either dismissed or had to leave for other reasons (e.g. Abuse) but am unable to find such a directive in my own search. –Joyce Continue reading →

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