www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Theology of matrimony

I have a question, I hope you don't think it's stupid.

What happens when a Pagan or Muslim couple who were "maried" in their religion, convert to the Church? Do they have to marry in a religious ceremony provided by the Church? In Orthodoxy they tell me that those Pagan converts must receive the mystery of marriage by an Orthodox priest within the Church or otherwise they would not be married. I am also told that in the USA, some Orthodox Churches have abused this by allowing remarriage of people who had been married in Catholic or Protestant churches.

Now one amazing aspect of the Roman theology of matrimony is that the ministers are the couple and not the priest, so they tell me like in cases of grave danger or when no mysteries are avaible a protestant, pagan or civil marriage can be valid. Like at the time of the persecutions in the Roman Empire where priests were scarce and many couples (only married by Roman Civil Law) converted to Christianity and became martyrs and saint and no one denied that they were truly married.

Any thoughts?

Errrr...I'm rusty on this, but I believe the Church's position is that marriages of non-Catholics are valid marriages, but are only natural marriages, whereas Catholic marriages are supernatural.

Perhaps someone else is clued into what I'm touching on and will expand on it.

Logos Teen

That's been my take too. The Catholic Church respects valid civil marriages - i.e. those of folks who are free to marry - but they are non-sacramental in nature.

Sharon

Dear Friends,

Here in Ontario, the first ever Catholic marriage was between the Servant of God, Joseph Chiouatenhwa and his wife who were married as pagans, of course.

We are promoting Joseph's beatification.

What I find interesting is also the difference of theology in this regard in East and West.

In the West, the marriage sacrament is given by the husband and wife to each other - the priest is but a witness who confers the blessing of the Church.

In the East, however, it is the priest and bishop who confers the Mystery of Crowning on the newlyweds.

As a result, the Western Catholic Church recognizes as valid the marriages of baptized Protestants since ordained priests are not necessary for a true sacramental marriage to occur.

The early Church simply blessed Christian couples after they were married according to Roman civil law - am I correct?

Alex