I married a non-Catholic in the Church. My sister married a non-Catholic in the Church. The only thing we did was inform the priest.
The Cathechism implies below that a Catholic can marry a non-Catholic with "special permission", not "special dispensation". So I don't see where I'm wrong on my statement that you don't need "special dispensation"
It says a special dispensation is required for a "disparity of cult" and then explains that a disparity of cult is between a Catholic and a non-baptized person, which is not the case in most mixed marriages. If there was a "special dispensation", we never knew about it.
I know that at one time, it was harder to marry a non-Catholic in the Church, as lakey said about her family in the 40s, but it certainly wasn't a big deal when I married.
My other statement was based on my knowledge of my grandparents case. They became Catholics after they were married for a long period of time, and the Church would not recognize their marriage or allow them to marry in the Church because they couldn't prove that my grandfather's first marriage was to a lady that had not been baptized. A Christian marriage, but not a Catholic one. About 30 years later the Church gave them permission to marry after they were able to prove she hadn't been batized and his first marriage was then considered not a marriage in the eyes of the Church. For as long as I can remember they had separate bedrooms and were two very devout Catholics in good standing with the Church.
I have my own personal opinion on this whole case, but I'll leave that out.
Anyway my knowledge is based on my personal experiences. It sounds like the "special dispensation" you refer to below must be hard to get between a Catholic and a non-baptized, person.
So, I stand corrected on the second statement. Evidently, with a "special dispensation" a Catholic can marry a non-batized person. I was interpolating from my grandparents case, since the Church recognized his first marriage and was told that if he could prove his first wife wasn't batized then he could remarry in the faith.
The first statement I called "inaccurate," because "non-catholic" would include those from other Christian communions, and non-baptized persons alike. When discussing the "rules of the Church," a more precise vocabulary must be used, otherwise there will be misunderstandings.
It says a special dispensation is required for a "disparity of cult" and then explains that a disparity of cult is between a Catholic and a non-baptized person, which is not the case in most mixed marriages. If there was a "special dispensation", we never knew about it.
I don't know that it is the case that most mixed marriages are between Catholics and other baptized individuals. There are very many marriages between Catholics and Jews. In those cases, a special dispensation would be required for them to marry in the Catholic Church.
Pre Vatican II, it was more difficult for Catholics to marry non-Catholics. That's accurate.
They became Catholics after they were married for a long period of time, and the Church would not recognize their marriage or allow them to marry in the Church because they couldn't prove that my grandfather's first marriage was to a lady that had not been baptized.
I'm sorry that your grandparents had to go through that, but I realize what the Church's position was. The Church recognizes valid marriages between parties of other Christian communions, and different religions. The Church defends valid marriages, period.
About 30 years later the Church gave them permission to marry after they were able to prove she hadn't been baptized and his first marriage was then considered not a marriage in the eyes of the Church.
Without knowing the exact particulars, it sounds to me like your grandfather did not need an annulment, but rather that the Pauline Privilege was invoked, which freed him to marry your grandmother in the Church.
Your grandparents' love of the Church is very inspiring to me. And how they loved each other! God bless them.
It sounds like the "special dispensation" you refer to below must be hard to get between a Catholic and a non-baptized, person.
I don't have the impression that it's hard to get, but that it's a more serious degree of ecclesiastical approval. If I'm wrong about this, someone please correct me.