Interdenominational marriage, sometimes called an inter-sect marriageorecumenical marriage, is marriage between spouses professing a different denomination of the same religion.
Interdenominational marriages are distinguished from interfaith marriages, unions between two people of different religions.
InChristianity, an interdenominational marriage (also known as an ecumenical marriage) refers to a wedding between two Christians who belong to different denominations, for example a marriage between a Lutheran and a Catholic.[1]
InMethodism, ¶81 of the 2014 Book of Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection, states with regard to interdenominational marriages: "We do not prohibit our people from marrying persons who are not of our connection, provided such persons have the form and are seeking the power of godliness; but we are determined to discourage their marrying persons who do not come up to this description."[2]
The Catholic Church recognizes as sacramental, (1) the marriages between two baptized Protestants or between two baptized Orthodox Christians, as well as (2) marriages between Catholic faithful and baptized non-Catholics,[3] although in the latter case, consent from the diocesan bishop must be obtained, with this termed "permission to enter into a mixed marriage".[4] To illustrate (1), for example, "if two Lutherans marry in the Lutheran Church in the presence of a Lutheran minister, the Catholic Church recognizes this as a valid sacrament of marriage".[3] Weddings in which both parties are Catholics are ordinarily held in a Catholic church, while weddings in which one party is a Catholic faithful and the other party is a non-Catholic can be held in a Catholic church or a non-Catholic church.[5]
The largest form of Inter-sect marriages in Islam is Sunni-Shia marriage. These marriages are common in Iraq, but uncommon in Saudi Arabia.[6]
The Catholic Church considers marriages of baptized Protestants to be valid marriages. So if two Lutherans marry in the Lutheran Church in the presence of a Lutheran minister, the Catholic Church recognizes this as a valid sacrament of marriage.
We might remind ourselves here that a marriage between a Catholic and a baptized person that takes place in the Catholic Church, or in another Church with permission from the diocesan bishop, is a sacramental union. Such a marriage is a life-long union and no power on earth can dissolve it.
If the wedding is celebrated in the Catholic Church, the priest presides, and a non-Catholic minister can offer prayers and ask a blessing on the couple. If the wedding takes place in a non-Catholic church, the minister presides, and a priest/deacon may be present to offer a prayer and blessing.
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