THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA The Canonical Form of Marriage in Latin Law and in Oriental Law: A Comparative Study With References to the Application of Catholic-Byzantine Law to Selected Pastoral Concerns In Eastern Europe. A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Canon Law Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Canon Law © Copyright All Rights Reserved By Benone Farcas Washington, D.C. 2010 The Canonical Form of Marriage in Latin Law and in Oriental Law: A Comparative Study With References to the Application of Catholic-Byzantine Law to Selected Pastoral Concerns In Eastern Europe. Benone Farcas, J.C.D. Director: John Beal, J.C.D. Book IV of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, title VII, chapter V and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, title XVI, chapter VII, article VI govern the canonical form of marriage. In many ways the provisions of the two codes are similar; in some instances, however, they differ. Both the similarities and the differences have pastoral consequences, especially in cases of mixed marriages or in territories where a hierarchical organization of various Oriental Catholic churches sui iuris does not exist. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the canonical form of marriage by comparing the Latin and Oriental canonical legislations and analyzing the pastoral consequences that arise when laws concerning canonical form of marriage are applied in specific areas, especially in light of recent political and social changes in Eastern Europe. This comparative study of the canonical form of the marriage in the Latin and in the Catholic Oriental law, especially within the Byzantine rite, begins with an historical overview of the issue in both the Latin and the Byzantine traditions focused on specific documents and circumstances that had a significant impact on the evolution of canonical form. Subsequently, it considers the treatment of the canonical form of marriage in the 1917 Codex Iuris Canonici and post-codal legislation concerning the oriental churches, especially the motu proprio Crebrae allatae. Afterward this dissertation surveys the evolution of the issue in the conciliar and post-conciliar legislative documents. The same comparative method is applied in analyzing the present law as expressed in the 1983 Code of Canon Law and the 1990 Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. Finally, this dissertation analyzes selected pastoral issues peculiar to Eastern Europe after the fall of the communist governments. This last section investigates canonically a few concrete problem situations related to the canonical form of marriage and proposes a tentative solution for each one. This study reveals how important is for those involved in pastoral work to be acquainted with both Latin and Oriental matrimonial legislation within the context of interecclesial relationships and within the prospect of today‟s increasing global mobility. This dissertation by Benone Farcas fulfills the dissertation requirement for the doctoral degree in canon law approved by John Beal, J.C.D., as Director, and by Ronny Jenkins, M.A., S.T.L., J.C.D., and Robert Kaslyn, S.J., J.C.D.as Readers. ____________________________________ John Beal., J.C.D., Director ____________________________________ Ronny Jenkins, M.A., S.T.L., J.C.D., Reader ____________________________________ Robert Kaslyn, S.J., J.C.D., Reader ii This work is dedicated first of all to my father, Gheorghe Farcas, who entered eternal life on July 14, 2001, and my mother, Maria Farcas, who has prayed me through all my years of education. They first taught me to respect the laws of God and of the Church. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. x GENERAL INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………............................ 1 CHAPTER ONE THE CANONICAL FORM OF MARRIAGE IN RITE OF LATIN LAW AND THE RITE OF MARRIAGE IN EASTERN LAW Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………......... 8 A. The Canonical Form of Marriage in Latin Law ………………………………………… 10 1. Clandestine Marriages ……………………………………………….………………... 10 2. The Council of Trent ………………………………………..…………………..……... 14 a. The conciliar debates at Bologna …………………………..……….…………… 14 b. The debates at Trent …………………………………………..…….…………… 18 c. The Decree Tametsi ………………………………………….……..……………. 25 d. Shortcomings of the Decree Tametsi …………………………………..……....... 29 3. The Post-Tridentine Legislation ..................................................................................... 36 a. The historical, religious and social circumstances ................................................. 36 b. The Benedictine Declaration ................................................................................. 39 c. Pertinent provisions issued after the Benedictine Declaration .............................. 43 d. The Decree Ne temere ............................................................................................ 45 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 47 B. The Rite of Marriage in Eastern Law ................................................................................ 49 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 49 1. The Development of Liturgical Celebration of Marriage iv in the Byzantine tradition ............................................................................................... 51 2. The Development of Liturgical Rite of Marriage in other Oriental Traditions .............. 54 3. Matrimonial Legislation in the Eastern Roman Empire ................................................. 58 a. Civil matrimonial legislation .................................................................................. 60 b. Theological and canonical approach to the matrimonial rite ................................. 65 4. The Development of the Oriental Rite of Marriage in Selected Countries of Eastern Europe ............................................................................................................ 67 a. The matrimonial rite in the Russian Orthodox Church in 17th and 18th centuries......................................................................................... 68 b. The Matrimonial rite in Moldavia and Walachia ................................................... 75 c. The marriage legislation of the Romanian Oriental Catholic Church in Transylvania ....................................................................................................... 78 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 86 CHAPTER TWO THE CANONICAL FORM OF MARRIAGE IN THE 1917 CODEX IURIS CANONICI, IN MOTU PROPRIO CREBRAE ALLATAE, AND IN CONCILIAR AND POST- CONCILIAR DOCUMENTS Introduction............................................................................................................................. 88 A. The Canonical Form of Marriage in 1917 Codex Iuris Canonici and in Motu Proprio Crebrea Allatae ............................................................................... 90 I. The form of marriage ....................................................................................................... 91 1. The pastor ............................................................................................................... 94 a. In Latin law ........................................................................................................ 94 b. In Oriental law ................................................................................................... 96 2. The local Ordinary ................................................................................................. 97 3. The local Hierarch .................................................................................................. 98 v 4. Witnesses ............................................................................................................. 100 5. Sacred rite ............................................................................................................ 103 6. Delegation vs. faculty .......................................................................................... 105 II. Assistance at marriage .................................................................................................. 106 1. Time of assistance ................................................................................................ 106 2. Place of assistance ................................................................................................ 110 3. Ritual affiliation ................................................................................................... 112 4. Manner of assistance ............................................................................................ 114 5. Assistance at marriages of Catholic faithful of different rites ............................. 115 6. Delegation to assist at a marriage ........................................................................ 122 7. Requirements for licit assistance at marriage ...................................................... 131 III. The extraordinary form of marriage ........................................................................... 139 IV. Persons subject