No one has an automatic right to marry: Pope

Ahuh, what an asshole.

I sorta agree with him tho.
If your faith is important enough to you to want to wed before the church, than you should stick to the rules the church set. It's a choice, and imo, if you don't agree with this moron (which I obviously don't) then don't marry before his institution, but just before the law.

When you put it that way I can see this as a good thing, all they are going to do is turn away more parishioners. "Oh sorry we dont think your marriage will last. Here the Church will teach you how to be a good wife to your husband, when you pass this course come back to us and we will talk again."

Exactly.

True, but what happens here in the States is that Americans will typically say something in the nature of " you" and get married in either an Episcopal Church(Catholic Light) or a Civil Ceremony. I would think that Canadians would do the same thing. The church might be right though.

This is rich! The catholic church preaching to others about morals and values!

On Friday, Benedict said that public officials must set a good moral example for society, but did not mention Berlusconi by name.

Ya thats we are saying, but why would you still go back to the Catholic Church if they felt you were not good enough to be married by them.

True, but what happens here in the States is that Americans will typically say something in the nature of " you" and get married in either an Episcopal Church(Catholic Light) or a Civil Ceremony. I would think that Canadians would do the same thing. The church might be right though.

If you're a devout Catholic, you'll follow the Pontiff's missives, if you are not, you won't. No national chest thumping required or the explanation of how Americans would tell the Pope to go fuck himself.

I see Benedict's time in the Hitler Youth wasn't wasted.

Godwin's Law by post nine! Good on ya!

Godwin's Law by post nine! Good on ya!
Thank you, thank you. It' been almost 2 years I've been on this site and I haven't invoked it yet, so I figured this was as good a time as any

Church is Church, if they don't want to marry someone, their call... as long as there are alternatives, no big deal.

Strange that when I got married, the ex wanted to do this in a church (catholic). When we met the priest, I made no effort to hide the fact that I was an atheist... he married us anyways.

Isn't it nice that in Canada, the government decides, not the Pope.