Returning Catholics FAQs: About Living Together

O n Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics , a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.

Can the priest refuse to marry us because we’re already living together?

It depends. The priest may ask you and your fiancé/fiancée to think about why you decided to live togethe...