Is a marriage between two Catholics in a civil ceremony considered valid?
Someone recently told me that it can be. I thought a civil marriage would be valid only if both parties were not Catholics, that any marriage outside the Church by a Catholic is invalid. A: The marriage you describe is valid in civil law if the man and woman meet that states requirements. The Catholic Church, however, regards such a marriage as valid only if the couple has requested and received from their local bishop a dispensation from canonical form, the requirement to marry before a priest, deacon or other person authorized by the Catholic Church to witness marriages. Unless there is some kind of civil emergency, such dispensations are not readily given if both parties are Catholic. A valid civil marriage by two Catholics, however, could later be convalidated if the couple requests that and if the Church agrees that this man and this woman are free to marry each other. The late Msgr. Joseph Champlins February 2004 St. Anthony Messenger article on convalidation can be accessed thro
