If a Catholic intends to marry a Hindu does the Hindu have to convert to have a Christian wedding?

Answer 1

3rd June 2009

Conversion:

There Catholic Church is clear that it teaches there is absolutely no compulsion for anyone marrying a Catholic to become a Catholic; this would include a Hindu or any non-Christian. The official teaching of the Catholic Church may be found in the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom. It states:

"This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power.......The council further declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself." (Paragraph 2)

"It is one of the major tenets of Catholic doctrine that our response to God in faith must be free: no one therefore is to be forced to embrace the Christian faith against his own will........The act of faith is of its very nature a free act."(Paragraph 10)

Ceremony

A Catholic marrying a non-Christian is required to receive permission from the local bishop; this is easily done. It is also possible to have the ceremony conducted outside of the church building out of sensitivity towards the family of the non-Christian. It is also possible to have the wedding conducted by a non-Christian minister; this may be allowed if a strong family link existed e.g. the non-Christian's father was a rabbi. However, a member of the Catholic clergy (or in the case of no available clergy a delegated lay person) would need to be present as an official Church witness; this is because the Catholic Church requires this for validity, as stated in canon. 1108 §1.

"Only those marriages are valid which are contracted before the local ordinary, pastor, or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them." (Note: canon 1112 allows a lay person to be delegated as the official Church witness if no clergy are available; this is provided that it has been sanctioned by the national conference and the Holy See has approved)

Correction

Canon 1112 is called the 'requirement of form'. There is no need for a Catholic clergyman to be present if a dispensation from form is given. In those cases, the officiating clergyman of the other religion becomes the official witness of record and this is put into the marriage register. The dispensation from form specifically dispenses from the need to have Catholic clergy as the official witness.

To the person who keeps changing this, please email me at clcrino@gmail.com and I can send you the relevant form from the Archdiocese of Chicago which indicates this.

Answer

A marriage with someone not baptized is indeed a marriage - and is graced as a marriage by God if the proper dispensations are first secured. Getting a dispensation for disparity of cult (a marriage between a Catholic and non-Christian) is easy and is granted by the local bishop. It is also possible to get a dispensation from 'canonical form' - i.e. permission to be married in a non-Catholic ceremony and outwith a church building; but a member of the Catholic must be present as an official Church witness.

A Hindu perespective

To understand this from a Hindu perspective you must understand what actually Hinduism is. Unlike Christianity, Islam and other religions Hinduism is not a religion with a set boundry; it is more a way of life.

One can get marriage with complete religious ceremony or you can simply get a civil marriage in the Office of Marriage registrar. However one thing is there generally the children adopt the religion of father ( at least till they are minor) but it is still not compulsory. However one must understand that in Hindu religion only a couple (husband and wife) can perform religious ceremonies like a Yajna, Pooja etc.

Answer 2

Answer:

Yes you surely can have it, but it won't be celebrated in the mass. It will be considered as a sacrament of Holy Matrimony for you.

But you need to give a promise to the Church i.e. you children will be Roman Catholics and should be baptised in faith and wont be a part of the Hindu religion.

Note: It wont be celebrated in a mass means, the consecration (changing of bread and wine into the Body and blood of Jesus) will not happen in the mass, which means you on that day will not be receiving Holy Communion.

Answer 3

Religion is up to the people to follow, no religion ever ask people to marry the person of their religion only, you are free soul, choose what you like to do.

God is One. Names are Many. God Bless.