Marriage in a Roman Catholic Church (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

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	Marriage in a Roman Catholic Church (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

I am hoping someone can help clarify a matter for me that has been prying on my mind for sometime. I was recently married to a wonderful woman who happens to be Roman Catholic. I therefore decided that I would defer and have the wedding ceremony performed in her church. We did not get married at mass because she felt it would not be fair to ask me to do so since I am a member of the Orthodox faith.

I have in no way renounced my belief in Orthodoxy, yet I am being told by my bishop that I am now unable to receive communion in my church. Is this true? If so could you please tell me why it is. I cannot see the reasoning for this. As I have stated previously I have in no way renounced my Orthodox faith. I do not feel as though it is right to deprive the sacrament of communion just because I was married in a Catholic church.

Any information that you can provide to me would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping that this matter can be cleared up, so that I may once again wholly partake in our Divine Liturgy.

ANSWER:

In brief, Orthodox Christians are only to be married in an Orthodox ceremony.

In your case, I would speak with your bishop concerning how the matter can be rectified and how you can be restored to the reception of Holy Communion. He should be more than happy to spell out what needs to be done according to the discipline of his particular diocese.

Published in January 2011.

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