102. Are there special laws governing marriage for Catholics?

The marriage of Catholics, even if only one party is baptized, is also governed by the laws of the Church or Canon law, without prejudice to the competence of the civil authority with respect to the effects of marriage on the civil rights and obligations of the individuals.

103. What must be established before a Catholic can be married?

Before a Catholic can be married, it must be established that nothing stands in the way of its valid and lawful celebration according to Canon law.

104. What is a mixed marriage?

A mixed marriage is a marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic.

105. What orientations does the Church give for mixed marriages?

The Church teaches that difference of confession between spouses does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle for marriage, when they succeed in building on what they have received in common from their respective communities, and learn from each other the way in which each lives in fidelity to Christ. The difficulties of mixed marriages, however, must not be underestimated. They arise from the fact that the separation of Christians has not yet been overcome. The spouses risk experiencing the tragedy of Christian disunity even in the heart of their own home.

106. What is required for a mixed marriage to be lawful?

In order to be lawful, the parties must seek the express permission from the relevant ecclesiastical authority. This permission presupposes that both parties know and do not exclude the essential ends and properties of marriage and the obligations assumed by the Catholic party concerning the baptism and education of the children in the Catholic Church.

107. In the case of mixed marriages, can the couple be married in the church of the non-Catholic spouse?

In the case of mixed marriages, if the norms of the diocese allow and circumstances make it advisable to do so, the couple can be married in the church of the non-Catholic partner. For the marriage to be valid, however, express dispensation from the ritual established for Catholics (technically called the canonical form) is required from the local ecclesiastical authority.

108. In the case of mixed marriages, can a religious ceremony be held in the church of each spouse?

In the case of mixed marriages and also marriages with disparity of cult, it is forbidden to have two religious ceremonies for the purpose of giving or renewing matrimonial consent. The couple is united by God in virtue of the first ceremony, making any repetition a mockery of a holy and sacred ceremony.

109. What is a marriage with disparity of cult?

A marriage with disparity of cult is a marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized person.

110. Is disparity of cult an insurmountable obstacle for marriage?

Disparity of cult is not an insurmountable obstacle for marriage. In such marriages the Catholic spouse has a particular task of bringing the non-Christian spouse closer to the faith. It is a great joy for the Christian spouse and for the Church if the sincere married love, the humble and patient practice of family virtues, and perseverance in prayer of the Catholic spouse should lead to the free conversion of the other to the Christian faith.

111. What orientations does the Church give for marriages with disparity of cult?

Marriages with disparity of cult require particular attention on the part of couples and their pastors because the difficulties that may arise should not be

underestimated. Differences about faith and the very notion of marriage together with different religious mentalities, can become sources of tension in marriage, especially as regards the education of children. The temptation to religious indifference can then arise.

112. What is required for a marriage with disparity of cult to be valid?

In the case of disparity of cult, an express dispensation from this impediment is required, not just for the legitimacy, but for the validity of the marriage. As with mixed marriages, but with additional caution, this dispensation presupposes that both parties know and do not exclude the essential ends and properties of marriage and the obligations assumed by the Catholic party concerning the baptism and education of the children in the Catholic Church.

113. In the case of marriages with disparity of cult, can the couple be married in the church of the non-Christian spouse?

In the case of marriages with disparity of cult, if the norms of the diocese allow and circumstances make it advisable to do so, the couple can be married in the church of the non-Christian partner. For the marriage to be valid, however, express dispensation from the canonical form is required from the local Bishop.