ns upon which the Church will permit a Catholic to marry
one who is not a Catholic are: (1) That the Catholic be allowed the free
exercise of his or her religion; (2) that the Catholic shall try by
teaching and good example to lead the one who is not a Catholic to
embrace the true faith; (3) that all the children born of the marriage
shall be brought up in the Catholic religion. The marriage ceremony must
not be repeated before a heretical minister. Without these promises, the
Church will not consent to a mixed marriage, and if the Church does not
consent the marriage is unlawful.

Q. 1040. What penalty does the Church impose on Catholics who marry
before a Protestant minister?
A. Catholics who marry before a Protestant minister incur
excommunication; that is, a censure of the Church or spiritual penalty
which prevents them from receiving the Sacrament of Penance till the
priest who hears their confession gets special faculties or permission
from the bishop; because by such a marriage they make profession of a
false religion in acknowledging as a priest one who has neither sacred
power nor authority.

Q. 1041. How does the Church show its displeasure at mixed marriages?
A. The Church shows its displeasure at mixed marriages by the coldness
with which it sanctions them, prohibiting all religious ceremony at them
by forbidding the priest to use any sacred vestments, holy water or
blessing of the ring at such marriages; by prohibiting them also from
taking place in the Church or even in the sacristy. On the other hand,
the Church shows its joy and approval at a true Catholic marriage by the
Nuptial Mass and solemn ceremonies.

Q. 1042. Why should Catholics avoid mixed marriages?
A. Catholics should avoid mixed marriages (1) Because they are
displeasing to the Church and cannot bring with them the full measure of
God's grace and blessing; (2) because the children should have the good
example of both parents in the practice of their religion; (3) because
such marriages give rise to frequent disputes on religious questions
between husband and wife and between their relatives; (4) because the
one not a Catholic, disregarding the sacred character of the Sacrament,
may claim a divorce and marry again, leaving the Catholic married and
abandoned.

Q. 1043. Does the Church seek to make converts by its laws concerning
mixed marriages?
A. The Church does not seek to make converts by its laws concerning
mixed marriages, but seek