Some catholic friends have been invited to a humanist wedding. I would appreciate some advice on how to talk to them about attending or not. Thanks BC
I'd also like to know the right thing to do here, there's a chance I may be asked to attend one too. These humanist weddings are getting very popular.
Kind of. I'm under the impression, after listening to a recent documentary on RTE R1, that a humanist wedding is one that places emphasis on the person and has absolutely no mention of God, and is favoured by atheists. They read from poems rather than scriptures and the wedding takes place on a beach, field, house, wherever. A work colleague of mine, the toughest, most militant atheist I've ever met, is planning a humanist wedding this summer. http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/so-what-exactly-are-humanists-222965.html
I think they are dangerous. They say, in the linked article in my previous post, that it's all about "giving people a choice". They've removed the cross from one of the biggest cemetaries in the country. What percentage of people there were buried as atheists? I'd guess not enough to justify removing the symbol of the religion of 90% of the deceased there. Choice? That's why my conscience is tugging at me about this humanist wedding this year. I've not been invited, yet, and I hope I'm not, but there's a chance I could be. Would it be right to support this carry on? Or, would it just be wishing a person well in marriage? In his book "Jesus of Nazerath", Pope Benedict XVI writes this about the absence of God: "Where God is absent, nothing can be good. Where God is not seen, man and the world fall to ruin" To attend or not to attend..... Honestly, I don't know.
I am attending a party for a humanist wedding that was held 2 months ago. It's my husband's nephew and he has lived with this woman for 10 year. Now that you bring this up maybe I should not attend. I definitely would not attend the wedding. It's difficult to know what to do. Mary
These weddings are obviously not a good idea but I don't think it is the same as fornication afterwards. The Church does consider the spouses married in some sense because, for example, you'd need to get an annulment from that wedding if you wanted to get married later in a church. I don't like them, especially when they use old religious sites for a non Church ceremony. I know an old church associated with a saint that they use for this and I think it's a terrible insult to the saint to get married this way. But that said I think you should go. It's also good to keep up family and friend ties and probably your attendance will not influence them much as regards whether they would go with that wedding or not. I wouldn't be a best man or bridesmaid though.
To go or not to go...that is the question? My humble opinion...if its on sacred site absolutely not. The rest...im not sure. Its tough Brother al
.we are in that position a lot . If one of the parties was catholic I have been advised by a priest not to go and not to give a gift. I did give a donation in their name to a catholic organization--Chalice---didn't know if that was OK or not. Annulments are always required as so many things have to be checked out-- were they baptized -- there is a whole list I just read lately about validity of marriages.
I suppose I would be more concerned about the spiritual dangers of attending, if it included ritual prayers etc. My Catholic friends are not awfully strong in their faith and are looking forward to attending even though one of them mentioned a pagan ritual being part of it. From experience I know one can't dabble in this stuff without consequences but I'm struggling how to explain it without them closing down on me.
I've been praying about this over the last few days and I feel the best thing to do is to pray and offer penance for my friends' deeper conversion. It came to me in prayer years ago to pray to another's angel, to get the person themselves to ask a question, then they are more open to the answer than if I try to argue a point. I would like to ask anybody reading this to join me in this, I know you guys are inundated but just a holy thought will help. Thanks. BC
My daughter attended a humanist wedding at a stone circle some time ago. It turned out to have all sorts of mumbo jumbo. They were all asked to remove their shoes and walk in circles carrying stones that were placed in a chalice. The ceremony included ceremonies with fire water and earth. She began feeling very unwell and she said she would never again attend such a ceremony. I think your friend should check out what the ceremony consists of. Mary
That sounds terrible alright, I take back what I said above if the wedding is going to be like that. I prayed for the intention you asked for Border. Coincidentally I was hanging out with two pagans a few days ago, very nice people actually. I think in some cases if people go down that road it might turn out that that sense of spirituality will eventually lead them back to the Church? I hope so anyway, and maybe you might pray with me that my two friends will return like that. For me the kind of lapsed Catholics who are very smug in the system, say obsessed with money but don't think there is anything wrong with that, are tougher nuts to crack as regards taking their religion seriously.
Wow. After reading that I think I'll just get creative with excuses if I'm ever invited to attend a humanist wedding.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do Not Be Unequally Yoked 14Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?…
I find now something in my heart switches off when I have dealings with an unbeliever. Something just closes down.
I find it the same Padraig but when the unbelievers are part of the family circle then we have to just bear with it. I do find though that the unbelievers in my extended family do not have much time for me either. I am attending a party that my husbands nephew and partner are having the mark their civil marriage next week. I suppose it does not impinge much on me but it is very difficult I think for parents whose children embark on this road. They just go along trying to keep the door open waiting for the moment to get them reconsider their choices. These are very difficult times for parents who are faithful to the Lord but are torn by the rejection of faith and tradition by their children.
