Clandestinity is a diriment impediment in the

canon law Canon law (from , , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its membe ...

of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. It invalidates a marriage performed without the presence of three witnesses, one of whom must be a

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

or a

deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian denominations, such as the Cathol ...

History

It was promulgated in the 16th century by the

Council of Trent The Council of Trent (), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation at the time, it has been described as the "most ...

in the decree called Tametsi. Prior to that time, an unwitnessed exchange of marriage vows was deplored but valid. The decree was enforced only in those regions where it could be proclaimed in the vernacular.O'Neill, James David. "Clandestinity (in Canon Law)." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 26 September 2019 The witnesses must be the parish priest or another priest, with permission either from the parish priest or the local ordinary, and the other two witnesses must be capable of giving witness to the marriage vows. It was later modified by the decree Ne Temere, to require specific priests, such as the local pastor of the couple's residence. It further stated that marriages ought to be celebrated in the parish of the bride. Further modifications provided that the priest was not necessary if one of the marrying parties was in danger of death or if the vows could not be exchanged before a priest in a reasonable amount of time.Taunton, Ethelred Luke. "Clandestinity", ''The Law of the Church'', K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & Company, Limited, 1906, p. 193
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References

External links

"marriage without a priest"
from ''New Catholic Dictionary'' Catholic Church legal terminology Impediments (Catholic canon law) Catholic matrimonial canon law Annulment {{RC-Canon-law-stub

History

See also

References

External links