In a mixed marriage, must the couple promise to raise their children Catholic?
The short answer
The Catholic party must promise. Canon law makes marriage with an unbaptized person invalid and with a baptized non-Catholic prohibited, unless permitted. The bishop may permit it if the Catholic promises to do all in his or her power to have the children baptized and raised Catholic, the other party is informed of that promise, and both are instructed about marriage.
The law
A marriage between a Catholic and an unbaptized person is invalid (CIC 1086), and between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic is prohibited (CIC 1124), without the Church's permission.
The conditions for permission
Bishops may permit such marriages if (CIC 1125):
- the Catholic declares readiness to remove dangers of falling from the faith and sincerely promises to do all in his or her power to have all children baptized and raised Catholic;
- the other party is informed in time of the Catholic's promises, so as to be truly aware of them;
- both are instructed on the purposes and essential properties of marriage, which neither may exclude.
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