Catholics can get married outdoors in two places: In Montana, and now in Baltimore

[trotsky]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/06/11/catholics-can-get-married-outdoors-in-two-places-in-montana-and-now-in-baltimore/

The outdoor wedding, stuff of girlhood fantasy and bridal-magazine photography, has long been off-limits to most Catholics.

No beachside ceremonies or mountaintop nuptials: The code of canon law, straight from the Vatican, says that marriages performed by a priest are meant to be celebrated in the bride or groom’s parish church.

But some U.S. dioceses are starting to test the boundaries of that law, which says that with permission of the proper Catholic authority, a priest can perform a marriage in “another suitable place.” The Archdiocese of Baltimore began testing a new policy in February that allows priests and deacons to request to marry a couple somewhere other than their parish church.

Archdiocese Chancellor Diane Barr said priests have asked to marry 50 couples in venues such as hotels and museums, and Barr’s office has approved all the requests. About a third of the requested venues are outdoors, she said. “There are some really beautiful wedding venues,” she said.

I had no idea that was a thing. I guess the Simpsons weren't exaggerating.

[MineralMan]

1. I was not aware of that restriction.

Pretty silly. Except that it helped the RCC stay in control of people's lives, which is its goal.

[Ohiogal]

3. Oh yes

Anyone here who was brought up Catholic can tell you ... outdoor Catholic weddings have always been a no no. They must be done inside a church.

Although they have celebrated Masses outdoors before, so what the reasoning is, I'm not sure.

[MineralMan]

4. Well, I was never a Catholic, so it's news to me.

Come to think of it, though, I've never been to or participated in a Catholic wedding except in a church.

How odd...

[Ohiogal]

5. I would welcome an explanation, myself, if anyone here can offer one.

I was brought up Catholic but married a non-Catholic divorced man in a Presbyterian Church, so my name is mud! LOL

[MineralMan]

9. Marriage is considered a sacrament in the Catholic Church.

Apparently, they think it must be done in a consecrated setting. Like many things in that church, it's a great mystery.

[Act_of_Reparation]

10. The reasoning is "Because we said so".

Which is how they reason just about all of their ridiculous taboos.

[trotsky]

7. Exactly, it's all about the control.

Like so many religious institutions.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

2. Depending on the diocese, it has to be in a consecrated church.

I wanted to get married in the chapel of the Catholic school I went to and it was a no go for that rule. It was gorgeous. Now I'm about as far from Catholic as possible, but it would have still have a special meaning for me given the positive memories of my years there.

[Ohiogal]

6. That's really strange that a chapel

in a Catholic school wasn't suitable. ??

[rurallib]

8. I wonder if in a few years some couples can claim they were never really married in the Church

and use it to get an annulment? I assume the 'no divorce rule' is still in effect?