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The Catholic Church eagerly embraces new members into its organization, whether they are single, married or even if they are recovering from a dissolved marriage. In order to be baptized as a Catholic, a divorced person must pay heed to established church regulations. A divorcee is required to present an inquiry before a Catholic... more »
Understanding a Catholic annulment should begin by describing what it is and isn't. To declare a marriage null by the Catholic Church is to say that the marriage was not binding at the time that the marriage vows were spoken. All marriages are considered valid by the Catholic Church whether or not they were Catholic marriages unless... more »
Getting married in London is much the same as getting married in the United States. You can have a civil ceremony or a religious one depending on your wishes. Parental consent is required if one of the marrying parties is under the age of 16 and certain relatives are prohibited from marrying. Marriage carries the same responsibilities... more »
Civil marriage or secular marriage is marriage performed by a government official and not a religious organization.
Civil marriage history
Every country maintaining a population registry of its residents keeps track of marital status, and most countries believe that it is their responsibility to register married couples. Most countries define the conditions of civil marriage separately from religious requirements. Certain countries, such as Israel, only allow couples to register on the condition that they have first been married in a religious ceremony recognized by the state, or were married in a different country.
In England
In medieval Europe, marriage was governed by canon law, which recognized as valid only those marriages where the parties stated they took one another as husband and wife, regardless of the presence or absence of witnesses. It was not necessary, however, to be married by any official or cleric. This institution was cancelled in England with the enactment of "Lord Hardwickes Marriage Act" of 1753, which required that, in order to be valid and registered, all marriages were to be performed in an official ceremony in a church recognized by the state, i.e. (Church of England, the Quakers, or in a Jewish ceremony). Any other form of marriage was abolished. Children born into unions which were not valid under the Act could not inherit the property of their parents. For historical reasons, the Act did not apply in Scotland. Consequently, until 1940, it continued to be enough in Scotland for a man and a woman to pledge their commitment to each other in front of witnesses to legalize their marriage. This led to an industry of "fast marriages" in Scottish towns on the border with England. The town of Gretna Green was particularly well known in this regard. In 1863, the requirement that the ceremony take place in a religious forum was removed, and the registrar was given the authority to register marriages not conducted by read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil+marriage
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