Reply from the Diocese
Jan. 25th, 2007 09:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
phoenix_aroseDear Lindsey and Matt,
Your request for a dispensation for your marriage to be witnessed in an outdoor ceremony was forwarded to me. First of all I want to congratulate you both on your approaching marriage even though it is over a year away. I will try to answer your question with an explanation.
Bishop Aymond usually will grant permission for a wedding outside a Catholic Church as long as one of the parties is not Catholic there is a pastoral reason to merit such a request. In those cases the dispensation is possibly granted for the purpose of creating harmony since the non-Catholic party may not always understand or agree to our sacramental understanding of marriage.
For two baptized Catholics, the bishop takes another stance regarding this request. Unless there is an extremely convincing reason why two Catholics should marry outside of the church, Bishop Aymond will not grant a dispensation. The reason is that the sacrament of marriage is strongly associated to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. That being the case, when two Catholics marry they should do so within the celebration of the Mass and Mass is to be celebrated in the church. Even if there is no mass during the marriage ceremony, the relevance of the church building, the significance of the parish community requires that a marriage between two Catholics takes place in the church.
I know that you are asking these questions early so that you can properly prepare. I hope that as you go through the marriage preparation classes and explore the spiritual importance of Marriage that you will appreciate the reason for the bishop's decision that requires baptized Catholics to marry inside the church.
Wishing you many graces as your prepare for the sacrament and many blessings in the coming years of your life together, I am
Sincerely in Christ,
Msgr. Michael Mulvey
Msgr. W. Michael Mulvey
Chancellor
Diocese of Austin
Your request for a dispensation for your marriage to be witnessed in an outdoor ceremony was forwarded to me. First of all I want to congratulate you both on your approaching marriage even though it is over a year away. I will try to answer your question with an explanation.
Bishop Aymond usually will grant permission for a wedding outside a Catholic Church as long as one of the parties is not Catholic there is a pastoral reason to merit such a request. In those cases the dispensation is possibly granted for the purpose of creating harmony since the non-Catholic party may not always understand or agree to our sacramental understanding of marriage.
For two baptized Catholics, the bishop takes another stance regarding this request. Unless there is an extremely convincing reason why two Catholics should marry outside of the church, Bishop Aymond will not grant a dispensation. The reason is that the sacrament of marriage is strongly associated to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. That being the case, when two Catholics marry they should do so within the celebration of the Mass and Mass is to be celebrated in the church. Even if there is no mass during the marriage ceremony, the relevance of the church building, the significance of the parish community requires that a marriage between two Catholics takes place in the church.
I know that you are asking these questions early so that you can properly prepare. I hope that as you go through the marriage preparation classes and explore the spiritual importance of Marriage that you will appreciate the reason for the bishop's decision that requires baptized Catholics to marry inside the church.
Wishing you many graces as your prepare for the sacrament and many blessings in the coming years of your life together, I am
Sincerely in Christ,
Msgr. Michael Mulvey
Msgr. W. Michael Mulvey
Chancellor
Diocese of Austin
So i have replied back that while i was baptized - I am in fast not a practicing Catholic - the importance of this is for Matt and that i ws really hopinh to compromise in an effort to make this happen - i have admoitted defer and said that i will have to take some education since i am not part of the church, in addition to the pre-cana classes we wil have to take - so here goes round 2 *cross your fingers*
