A missed opportunity to celebrate a young couple

[rug]

by Joe Ferullo | Apr. 15, 2013

It doesn't seem to make sense for Catholic hierarchy to prevent young couples from marrying in the church -- it doesn't bode well for that whole "children are our future" thing we keep talking about -- and yet I heard an interesting story on just that subject.

I was at a church function and sat down next to two friends, a couple. They were involved with planning their daughter's wedding. It had a lot of complications.

For one, she was getting married back East, in Washington, D.C., which meant the mother -- living here in Los Angeles -- could not help as much as she liked with details like the dress, the bridesmaids and the catering.

Then there was the little matter of finding a church. The couple approached several parishes, but they required the young couple to be active members for at least six to nine months.

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/missed-opportunity-celebrate-young-couple

[goldent]

1. I have mixed feelings about this...

but I have to say this: The priests I know really want to marry any couple who asks, and will go to extremes to give them the benefit of the doubt. For example, you can say "well I never registered with any parish, but I do go to church sometimes but I have problems keeping it up" and he'll try to work out a deal.

I thought this was funny:

And the church -- well, it can't open the door to young cafeteria Catholics unwilling to sit down and eat the full meal.

No priest I know thinks this way - they would be all too happy to have the bride or groom be cafeteria Catholics.

[IrishAyes]

3. Has to start somewhere, doesn't it?

Besides, did Jesus refuse to cure the lepers who were not his followers? He ate 'with publicans and sinners' too, and I'll bet he enjoyed their company more.

[tjwmason]

2. I'm slightly bemused by part of the article

It notes that the groom isn't a Catholic, and then implies that this is a significant barrier.

A friend of mine, very very Catholic, is getting married next year to a non-Catholic - there's some paperwork which needs to be done, but there hasn't been the faintest hint that there's something wrong with it. This will be a Catholic ceremony within the context of a Nuptial Mass, in a pretty high-profile London church.

[IrishAyes]

4. It may not surprise some folks

to learn that in Asia, at least, there's no big deal about Catholic and Buddhist weddings co-officiated equally. Many people go to Mass in the morning and temple another time. Even some priests are practicing Buddhists, since the latter is actually a philosophy rather than a religion, technically. I find that lovely.