Can the Pope Validly Marry People on an Airplane?

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Cathy Caridi

Q: It would seem that [during his trip to Chile] Pope Francis received and blessed a couple who actually celebrated the sacrament of Holy Matrimony on the Pope’s flight.

At first glance, according to your previous articles about canonical validity regarding the location of the celebration, the pope’s airplane doesn’t seem to be like an ordinary parish. Therefore I wonder: is that sacrament valid?

If so, is it because the pope has the power to derogate from canon law in specific situations?  Or at his own pleasure?  I understand he is the Supreme Legislator, so is this an example of Pope Francis using that liberty? –Brian Continue reading →

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How Did My Ex Remarry in the Church, Since We Never Got an Annulment?

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Cathy Caridi

Q: My ex-husband and I are both Catholics.  We got married in my parish church.  We later were divorced but never got an annulment.

Recently he got remarried in a civil ceremony.  They went on their honeymoon to [a major European city], and I bumped into them shortly after they came back.  They smugly announced to me that “we had our marriage blessed in [the Catholic cathedral there].”

WHAT?  How did they do that, since our marriage was never annulled? –Beth Continue reading →

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Can Children Have Any Input in Their Parents’ Annulment Proceedings?

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Cathy Caridi

Q: If one or both of the parties to a marriage seeks an annulment in the Catholic Church, do the adult children of that marriage have any canonical rights to be informed of that process, involved in it, or have their opinions heard or represented in it?

It seems to me that the validity of the marriage which produced them is something that it is right and proper for a child to have an interest in. (I realize that the Church does not consider the children of an annulled marriage to be illegitimate—but surely the proper interests of a child in the validity of their parent’s marriage go beyond the mere question of their own legitimacy.) –Simon Continue reading →

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Can You Marry Validly While Intoxicated?

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Cathy Caridi

Q: In a case where either bride or groom was inebriated at the time they exchanged vows, would the validity of the marriage take effect when the offending party regained sobriety?  Let’s say they continued to live as husband and wife for the following ten years. Curious. –Kevin Continue reading →

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Can the Priest Refuse to Baptize Our Baby, Since We’re Married Outside the Church?

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Cathy Caridi

Q: I am a Catholic who was married in a Hindu ceremony, and now we have a baby girl. We wish to baptize her in the parish, but our priest is refusing to do that, since our marriage was not sacramented [sic] in any church. He says we need to convert my wife first into Christianity and thereafter we can do baptism of our daughter.
I request that you show me the way forward to do baptism of our daughter without converting my wife.  –Saji

(Later update:) The parish priest in consultation with the bishop asked us to rectify our marriage in the church.
I would request you to guide us further on this matter and how to take it forward without rectifying the marriage in Catholic Church. –Saji Continue reading →

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