Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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MIXED MARRIAGE PROMISES

The commitment required of the Catholic party in a marriage with a non-Catholic. As expressed in the apostolic letter of Pope Paul VI in 1970, this commitment involves two things: "The Catholic party shall declare that he is ready to remove dangers of falling from the faith. He is also gravely bound to make a sincere promise to do all in his power to have all the children baptized and brought up in the Catholic Church" (Matrimonia Mixta, norm 4). In many countries, e.g., the United States, the bishop's conference further specifies that, to obtain a dispensation for a mixed marriage, these promises by made orally or in writing as the Catholic prefers.