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Excommunicated priests- can they perform weddings?

  • 02-04-2009 12:25pm
    #1
    jubi lee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 292 ✭✭


    Can an excommunicated priest perform legally binding marriages? Furthermore can he do this outside i.e. a garden?


Comments

  • #2
    jhegarty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,441 ✭✭✭jhegarty


    I am going to guess that they can't.


  • #3
    testicle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,429 ✭✭✭testicle


    An excommunicated priest is no longer a priest, or a Catholic.

    Can atheists perform legally binding marriages if they are not civil registrars?

    This should answer your question.


  • #4
    jubi lee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 292 ✭✭jubi lee


    apparently they can!

    i came across a post by a bride on another forum who is having this done. she has been assured by the priest and the registrars office that he can perform legal ceremonies.

    i thought if a priest is excommunicated, that he can't recieve the sacrement let alone marry someone.

    plus i thought it was impossible to have a legally binding marriage outside unless it was just a blessing.


  • #5
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    Denominations and churches get approval from the Registrars Office to licence their clergy as solemnisers. Revoking that licence would need to be done separately and would not automatically happen with excommunication.

    I'm a registered solemniser myself, and I'm pretty sure that legal wedding ceremonies must occur in a building, not in a garden.


  • #6
    jubi lee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 292 ✭✭jubi lee


    ats what I thought PDN. so basically it wouldn't be a catholic wedding but rather a civil ceremony outside, (that shouldn't really be allowed cos under civil ceremony rules, they must be carried out in preapproved buildings right?)


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  • #7
    antiskeptic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,555 ✭✭✭antiskeptic


    jubi lee wrote: »
    ats what I thought PDN. so basically it wouldn't be a catholic wedding but rather a civil ceremony outside, (that shouldn't really be allowed cos under civil ceremony rules, they must be carried out in preapproved buildings right?)

    You can't have the civil aspect of the marriage ceremony happen outside whether communicated Catholic priest, ex-communicated Catholic priest or non-Catholic solemniser.

    What you could do is tip on down to the registry office some time before the wedding - just the two of you + witnesses - and get the civil aspect out of the way. Then you could have a wedding ceremony whereever you like officiated over by your ex-communicated Catholic priest. You'd have to check it out but I see no reason why you can't do the whole thing: proclaiming (before God) you man and wife and all. The state has no interest at that point.


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