CCAR RESPONSA
New American Reform Responsa
224. Officiating in a Civil Capacity
QUESTION: May a rabbi officiate in a civil capacity in a wedding involving two Catholics? What is our Reform response to such a request? (Peter Schweitzer, New York NY)ANSWER: There is nothing in the tradition which deals with a situation even remotely akin to this. The procedure used by Jewish military chaplains in the wartime emergency of giving last rites to Catholics was limited to that emergency. In this instance, although it may be legally possible for a rabbi to perform a civil marriage of two Catholics, it would be wrong to do so because of marit ayin. As most rabbis do not marry a Jew to a non-Jew, this kind of participation would be bizarre. A rabbi should not conduct such a ceremony for it appears as if he/she is willing to marry anyone without religious considerations. A rabbi should be involved only in qidushin and not in the marriages of other religions or civil marriages. It would be difficult because of our orientation to avoid some religious overtones in such a wedding ceremony and that would be inappropriate. The rabbi may, of course, give a toast or something akin to that at the festivities following the wedding. That would clearly indicate to everyone that the rabbi is present as a friend and not participating in the actual marriage ceremony. We should not engage in a civil marriage.October 1990
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