A Request for Marriage

Susan Smith and Joe Namath were both baptized into the Roman Catholic Rite as infants. They were raised in families where Sunday observance was usually maintained, and they went to CCD long enough to make their First Communions. When Joe was a teenager, his parents divorced. Joe stopped going to Mass on Sundays. Susan continued Mass attendance while she lived at her parents' home, but she stopped going when she went away to college. Now, both Susan and Joe go to Christmas Mass, and Susan goes on Easter if she is with her family. They come to you and want to be married in your parish. What will you do?

Analyze this case:

• What are the key facts of the case?
• Are there any other facts you would need or like to know?
• What are the key pastoral issues involved?
• What canons do you see as pertinent to this case?
• What literary, rhetorical & historical aspects of these canons are important for their interpretation?
• What is your position in the parish?
• How would you resolve the case?
• What are the grounds for your decision?
• Briefly, what are the ethical, pastoral, and theological implications of your decision?

Variations:

1. What if they are living together already? Do you agree to do the wedding?
2. What if they tell you they have decided never to have children?
3. What if they tell you that Susan has had a hysterectomy because of uterine cancer, so they cannot have any children?