“Sleeping with your wife after traditional marriage without Church wedding is a sin” — Catholic priest

A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Prince Chidi Philip, has urged Christians, particularly Catholics, to proceed with a Church wedding after completing their traditional marriage.

The priest made the statement in a Facebook post while stressing the importance of having marriages formally celebrated and blessed by the Church.

“As a Catholic priest, this is one point I will continue to insist on, even if it makes some people uncomfortable,” he said.

Philip said Christians should not regard traditional marriage as the final step in the marriage process, urging couples to complete the Church wedding afterwards.

“If you are a Christian, especially a Catholic, you should not stop at traditional marriage. After your traditional marriage, you should proceed to the Church for your Church wedding,” he said.

He expressed concern over what he described as the avoidance of Church weddings by many young Christians.

“It is very unfortunate that many young Christians are avoiding Church weddings,” the priest said.

According to him, Catholics who have completed only their traditional marriage should abstain from sexual relations until their marriage has been celebrated and blessed by the Church.

“The truth is that, after a traditional marriage, you do not have the right to sleep with your spouse until after the marriage has been celebrated and blessed by the Church,” he said.

“Sleeping with your spouse after a traditional marriage, without a valid Church marriage, is still considered a mortal sin.”

The priest also encouraged couples who may be concerned about the cost of a Church wedding to approach their parish priest and complete the required preparations.

“Remember, a Church wedding is almost free. You can even have it during a morning Mass. Simply approach your priest, complete the necessary preparations, and have your marriage blessed and recognized before God and the Church,” he said.

Philip further maintained that Church marriage should not be treated as optional by Catholics.

“Church marriage is not something Catholics should treat as optional. If you are a Catholic, it is a serious obligation to have your marriage properly celebrated according to the law of the Church,” he said.