"One thing the priest said to us before our marriage was that the church doesn't create a marriage, they bless an existing union. I'm not sure what the Catholic stance is on that."
The Catholic Church teaches that the bride and the groom are the ministers of the Sacrament of Matrimony; they confer it upon each other. The priest is there to be the Church's witness and to give the blessing.
128 posted on 10/16/2006 8:07:11 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
(Do not accept a "truth" that comes without love, or a "love" that comes without truth. Edith Stein)