[VidMihi]

It seems to me that the Church ought to take into consideration that it is the couple's wedding and be more willing to accomodate them rather than acting like "father Knows best" and you will be married inside a church' especially when dictated by those who never were married and are never likelty to be ( well, except in some states )

[OpusatFR]

bad link.

[SumProVita]

Special dispensations CAN be granted. The *matter* of the sacrament cannot be changed....but the place is not the matter. The Church, in her wisdom, has reasons for safeguarding the sacramental tradition.

[Iscool]

This the first of many more examples where our predominantly gay clergy has much more to learn from the married clergy in our Roman Catholic Church.

Right from the horse's mouth...

[Alouette]

Can someone explain to me why Catholic weddings can’t take place outdoors?

I am not Catholic, and I had an outdoor wedding, my kids all had outdoor weddings, even my daughter who was married in February during a blizzard. (For the comfort of the guests, chairs were lined up in front of a picture window)

[Salvation]

**Christine Gregoire is the governor of Washington State. Her daughter Courtney wanted an outdoor wedding at the governor’s mansion in Olympia. Yesterday, the Archdiocese of Seattle gave Courtney and Scott the outdoor Roman Catholic wedding they wanted.**

Another CINO.

[magisterium]

Marriage in the Catholic Church is a privilege based on membership. It is not a "right" that one can dictate the form of, at least beyond certain bounds. The Church has always wanted to emphasize the sacred nature of the Sacrament of Matrimony, and, in Her wisdom, has considered that things like outdoor weddings can trivialize the solemn nature of what is taking place. "It's all about me, Me, ME" is a symptom of our times, and is embodied these days in couples demanding such things as outdoor weddings to "celebrate our togetherness" or "commune with nature while we commune with each other," or some other nonsense. The church building, according to older perceptions, is the Domus Dei, the House of God. What good reason, not rooted in self-absorption, would a believing Catholic have for not wanting to be married in the House of God?

Catholic matrimony is not about the warm-fuzzies. That can be saved for the reception. Marriage is a life-long commitment, and the Church has a right to prescribe to its members how it is to be celebrated, just like the ruling authorities have the right to prescribe the activities of anyone in voluntary societies. Perhaps if marriage weren't so trivialized theses days, in ways like this, among Catholics, subsequent divorce wouldn't be nearly so frequent, and better choices might be made to begin with.

[xzins]

Being a minister in a denomination that sets no restrictions on the location of weddings (or funerals), my personal opinion is that those conducted outside of the church building are always weaker. It’s simply not possible for most couples (families) to come up with all the support that’s already in place in a church building. Whether organs, pianos, sound systems, seating, decorations, atmosphere, changing rooms, staff musicians, fellowship halls, etc., etc., all of it is in place, requires no extra planning or cost, and enables the couple to focus on more important things.

I think a couple/family ends up with a lesser ceremony — and one requiring a whole lot more work — when they go elsewhere.

[B Knotts]

There is no policy change: one can ask for a dispensation from the bishop to be married, even in a non-Catholic church. A Catholic priest must be present, though.

That a dissenter presents it as a policy change is nothing more than dishonest spin.