The information below might be of help in preparing for any meeting that you might arrange with the parish clergy.

Basic requirements for getting married in the Catholic Church.

At least six months notice of the date on which you hope to marry, must be given to the priest of the parish to allow sufficient time for all the formalities and preparations that are required.

At least one partner must be a baptised member of the Roman Catholic Church

The priest who will be involved in your marriage will also advise you about exactly which papers will be required by the Church and Civil registrars. In general, you will be asked to produce:

• Written evidence that you are free to marry. This means, first and foremost, that neither partner has been married previously. If either or both partners have been married before, it is of primary importance that the couple raise the matter with the priest at the first meeting with him. He will be able to advise you in relation to your own particular situation.
• A baptism certificate will be required for the Catholic partner, a recently issued copy from the church where you were baptised and, for Christians of other Churches, the original or copy of the original.
• Normally it is expected that the Catholic will have been confirmed or is prepared to be confirmed, though this is not an absolute requirement.
• The priest will discuss with you the requirement to attend marriage preparation - normally a one day course with Marriage Care.

Frequently asked questions

Q. If one of us is not a Catholic, do we need permission?
A. Yes: it is called a ‘dispensation’ and is arranged for you by the Priest.

Q. What if we are living together and maybe have children?
A Many couples today are in this situation.The fact that one of you at least is a member of the Catholic Church by baptism means that you are able to marry within the Catholic Church. The Church welcomes all couples who feel ready to make a public commitment to each other before God.

Q. Are those who are not Roman Catholics required to become Roman Catholics?
A. No: the Church believes that becoming a member of a Church is a separate commitment, to be chosen freely. The decision to become a Catholic can be made at any time.

Q. Do we have to make any promises before the wedding ceremony?
A. If one partner is not a Catholic, the the Catholic partner is asked to make the following declaration as part of the preparation: “I declare that I am ready to uphold my Catholic faith and to avoid all dangers of falling away from it. Moreover, I sincerely undertake that I will do all I can, within the unity of our partnership, to have all children of our marriage baptised and brought up in the Catholic Church.

As can be seen from the wording above, the Church accepts that this commitment should not threaten the unity of the marriage. Rather, it is to emphasise the supporting role of a living faith in a couple’s life together.

Q. Why do Catholics believe that marriage is for life?
A. Ask any couple about to get married what they want most out of life and they are likely to tell you that it is, ‘to be happy together for always’, which implies an unconditional commitment to life-long faithfulness to each other. This is the kind of commitment reflected in the pages of scripture, one affirmed by Christ himself in His teaching.