Impediments to marriage QUESTION from C. February 27, 2000 Dear John-Paul,
Is a marriage between a baptized Catholic and a Hindu per se prohibited in the Catholic church? If not, what steps must be taken in preparation for such a marriage? Also, may a non-catholic who was previously married to a Catholic, but in a civil ceremony, now marry in the Catholic church?
Thank you for this fourm.
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, O.L.S.M. on February 29, 2000 Dear Miss C:
A Catholic is forbidden to marry a baptized non-Catholic without permission of the bishop.
A marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized person is invalid unless permission is obtained from the bishop.
As to a non-Catholic previously married to a Catholic in a civil ceremony, would still not be allowed to marry a Catholic unless the Catholic partner received persmission from the Bishop. As to whether this person need an annulment, that depends on the circumstances of the first marriage.
Bishops may give a dispensation to allow marriages with non-Christians or with non-Catholics, but only for good reason. I think I have outlined that in a previous post.
God Bless.
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