Episode Details

Fr. Jonathan Romanoski, FSSP is Pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Providence, Rhode Island. He was ordained in 2008.     In Today's Show (All About Marriage Part Two):

• To what extent am I expected to speak to those I know who are participating in LGBTQ "weddings," whether it be their own or someone else's, and offer correction? Am I sinning if I see these things and simply ignore them rather than taking concrete action and/or confronting those people?
• My brother has invited me to his 2nd marriage. Both were previously married in the Catholic Church and subsequently civilly divorced. When I was invited, I replied that I could only attend if his ceremony was a Catholic ceremony. Now he has said that a Retired Deacon will officiate the ceremony at a non-church venue. Must I inquire further or is this 'good enough' to not give scandal if I attend?
• How might the average priest handle a proposed marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic? Is the priest expected to discourage the marriage from the very start, or is the marriage totally acceptable as long as the couple agrees to raise any children from the marriage in the Catholic faith?
• I have heard the practice of "convalidation" mentioned in conversations regarding marriage, but I don't fully understand the term. Would you mind explaining it to me? In what scenario might convalidation be utilized?
• When you get married, sometimes you enter the marriage with traumas. How might one begin to work through those traumas in order to prevent them from  affecting the marriage?
• Could one get married sacramentally but not legally (via the state)?
• Please discuss marriage between a man and a woman who cannot have children.  What are the sacramental benefits and purposes spiritually?  What should this couple be focusing on?
• How does one start the process of annulment if one spouse has been away for many years and may still be alive but would likely be unwilling to participate?
• When two married people with children divorce and one obtains an annulment of the marriage what does that do to the children in regard to the church?
• If someone was divorced twice, could they get married a third time in the church? The first two weddings were not in the church.
• What does the church teach about prenuptial agreements? If someone doesn't want one and wants to marry outside the US to avoid the requirement, is that legal?
• Is it a mortal sin if one attends a civil wedding ceremony of a man and woman?

 

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