I’m no fan of Francis. I think he has approved of, and promoted, an heretical interpretation of Amoris Laetitia. But it has long been permissible for valid marriages to be contracted without the presence of a priest or deacon, if waiting for one to be available would delay the marriage for a burdensome length of time, often interpreted to be a month or more.
This is frequently the case in mission territories, or even in some places in South America.
It is doctrinally sound because the priest or deacon is not actually the minister of the sacrament. The people being married administer the sacrament to each other. They must contract the marriage publicly, witnessed by members of the community. However, if no witnesses are available, e.g., they are alone on a desert island, they may still exchange marriage vows, and the marriage is fully sacramental, valid, and permanent, exactly as if it had been contracted before a priest.
It is considered licit in those circumstances because of the danger of the couple falling into sexual sin.
I understand that; same with baptisms. But it now appears Francisco is furthering a priestess church as best he can.
I would agree with ebb. If this were the only Francis change and Francis was actually Catholic, then this would probably be no issue. The problem is...it isn’t the only change and he isn’t Catholic. Hence, the motivation behind such a change is suspect.