Is it OK to book and perform non-Catholic weddings?

lily20 · #1 Feb 23, '12, 6:36 am

I've been booking weddings for years now, but only just recently have I wondered if I'm committing a sin by making a partial living providing musical services for wedding clients. These services are 95% non-Catholic weddings.

Is there any harm in this?

Please advise.

SuscipeMeDomine · #2 Feb 23, '12, 7:18 am

It sounds like you believe that non-Catholic weddings are automatically invalid, but that is not true.

Assuming that both parties are free to marry, two Protestants, two Jews, two Muslims, two atheists, etc. can all enter into valid marriages. Should any of those people later enter the Catholic Church, their marriages would still be recognized as valid.

Where there would potentially be problems with validity would be cases of people who are remarrying after divorce or Catholics who marry outside the Church. Depending on how much background you have on the couples you may or may not know this information.

Splagchnizomai · #3 Feb 23, '12, 8:48 am

I don't think it's a sin (based on what you've told so far), but I do think it is a calling to a deeper life in music for the Lord. Since you are asking yourself this question, I'd bring it to the Lord in prayer and ask him where he is leading you. Be specific and be persistent in your prayers about this.

Pfaffenhofen · #4 Feb 23, '12, 8:49 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by lily20

I've been booking weddings for years now, but only just recently have I wondered if I'm committing a sin by making a partial living providing musical services for wedding clients. These services are 95% non-Catholic weddings.

Is there any harm in this?

Please advise.

No, on the contrary.

lily20 · #5 Feb 23, '12, 9:47 am

Thanks

Castello · #6 Feb 23, '12, 1:41 pm

As we grow in virtue, things that never pricked our conscience before will start to trouble us. Do you have a spiritual director?

lily20 · #7 Feb 24, '12, 8:16 am

No, not officially.

SuscipeMeDomine · #8 Feb 24, '12, 9:26 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castello

As we grow in virtue, things that never pricked our conscience before will start to trouble us. Do you have a spiritual director?

What is there about non-Catholic weddings that should prick someone's conscience?

Castello · #9 Feb 24, '12, 10:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuscipeMeDomine

What is there about non-Catholic weddings that should prick someone's conscience?

Chances are that a large percentage of these are invalid attempts at marriage, where there are former spouses, Catholics marrying outside or the Church, etc.

Luna Lovecraft · #10 Feb 24, '12, 11:48 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castello

Chances are that a large percentage of these are invalid attempts at marriage, where there are former spouses, Catholics marrying outside or the Church, etc.

And how would the OP know any of this without asking intrusive questions of the couple? And why is it any of the OP's business to know this? She's a musician, not the officiant. I don't get how providing a contracted, legal service at a wedding would be sinful.

Luna