Mostly no, but there is a single exception. Keep reading to learn more.
In Eastern Catholic Churches, which follow the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox beliefs regarding marriage, a priest (never a deacon) is the minister of the sacrament.
In Latin Rite Church it is more complex as it is the Husband and Wife who are understood to confer marriage on each other. The spouses, as ministers of grace, naturally confer upon each other the sacrament of matrimony, expressing their consent before the church. This does not eliminate the need for church involvement in the marriage; under normal circumstances, canon law requires the attendance of a priest or deacon and at least two witnesses for validity
There is an exception for Latin Rite churches. Where there is a lack of priests and deacons, the diocesan bishop can delegate lay persons to assist at marriages, with the previous favorable vote of the conference of bishops and after he has obtained the permission of the Holy See. A suitable lay person is to be selected, who is capable of giving instruction to those preparing to be married and able to perform the matrimonial liturgy properly.
So strictly speaking yes, a lay person can celebrate marriage, but it is a rare situation.
So, if your question is: can a Bishop witness a marriage and give the nuptial blessing, in other words "perform as a priest would in a marriage", then the answer is, of course, but he would not need a license from his bishop to do so, like the priest or deacon would.
Eastern Catholic AnswerIn the Eastern Catholic Churches, as in the Eastern Orthodox, the minister of marriage is the bishop or priest who gives the blessing. So, in these Catholic Churches, the answer is simply yes.
If it's legal (the lay Catholic is a justice of the peace or something), then I see no problem with him officiating at a non-Catholic wedding as it is not a sacrament. He would only run into problems if one or both of the people who wanted to be "married" was a baptized Catholic. Church law says that such a marriage must be witnessed by a priest, and thus the lay Catholic could not witness it without special permission from his Bishop.
No, only am ordained deacon or priest can perform a marriage.
Catholic priests have always had the authority to perform marriages but I am assuming they are licensed to perform marriages when they are ordained. Marriage, or matrimony, is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Church. Also, Catholic priests do not perform marriages but they actually witness them.
The couple must obtain a civil marriage license then the Catholic clergy is allowed to perform the ceremony. The marriage vows are taken then followed by either a high or a low mass.
No, a Catholic priest cannot perform a marriage without a registrar present. In most countries, the presence of a registrar or marriage officer is required by law to legally register the marriage. The priest can perform the religious ceremony, but the marriage also needs to be registered with the appropriate authorities.
No. Same-sex marriage has always been regarded as an abomination by the Catholic church.No. Same-sex marriage has always been viewed as an abomination by the Catholic church.
NO, all weddings require a legal marriage license from the state.
Do you mean a Pastor who is eligible to be married or one who is legally qualified to perform a marriage? catholic-soulmates blogspot com
A Catholic Answer (Catholics in union with the Pope) In the United States, the answer would be yes, because customarily, nearly all members of the clergy of all faiths are licensed by the local state or county to perform marriages, and by agreement with the local state or county, when these clergy members perform the religious wedding ceremony, the civil marriage in the eyes of the civil law takes effect as well, silently, as it were. The couple will have applied for and received by mail their civil marriage license, which the clergyman will usually verify before he performs the ceremony.
Roman Catholic AnswerNo, Church law requires that any marriage they perform be recognized in civil law. Please note that the "blessing service" mentioned below does not refer to a Catholic Church. AnswerAs an additional answer, in case the questioner is considering looking elsewhere other than the Catholic Church I know of no church whether Catholic or not that will perform such a service. One cannot be married in Church unless the marriage is also a legal occasion and recognised in civil law. However some denominations will provide a 'blessing' service but not a marriage.
Yes they can. They are also human beings and posses full right to attend any civil ceremony only if it is not against any religious rules.Catholic AnswerA priest could not normally attend a civil ceremony if one of the parties involved was Catholic as this would involve serious sin on the part of all Catholic parties involved.
Roman Catholic AnswerNo, anytime there is an attempt at marriage on record, that attempt must first be declared void before the Church can perform a marriage. So if there was a first marriage - regardless of the circumstances, it must still be declared null and void before permission can be granted for a marriage. Speak to your parish priest about this as soon as possible as annulment is long and involved. The Church normally assumes the attempted marriage was valid when beginning an investigation, and all judgments must be appealed to Rome. However, if you were a Catholic when you attempted a marriage outside the Church, in this instance, they will probably assume that there was not a valid marriage and the annulment might not take as long.
Roman Catholic AnswerNo, anytime there is an attempt at marriage on record, that attempt must first be declared void before the Church can perform a marriage. So if there was a first marriage - regardless of the circumstances, it must still be declared null and void before permission can be granted for a marriage. Speak to your parish priest about this as soon as possible as annulment is long and involved. The Church normally assumes the attempted marriage was valid when beginning an investigation, and all judgments must be appealed to Rome. However, if you were a Catholic when you attempted a marriage outside the Church, in this instance, they will probably assume that there was not a valid marriage and the annulment might not take as long.
If they perform sexual acts and they were never pronounced husband and wife by a priest then yes, they are.