When Melissa wrote to The Patrick Madrid Show, her email was simple and direct: she’d been a bridesmaid in two weddings years ago, both involving Catholics who married outside the Church without dispensation. Now that she understands her faith better, she wonders if she sinned by participating.

Patrick begins with calm reassurance. “If you didn’t know the Church’s teaching at the time, then no – you didn’t sin,” he says. “You can’t be guilty of what you didn’t know.” Ignorance doesn’t excuse every act, but it removes moral culpability when the person truly doesn’t understand what they’re doing. Still, he added, “If your conscience bothers you, bring it to confession. Just mention it briefly and leave it at the foot of the Cross.”

Patrick then turns to the practical question: should Catholics attend such weddings? To explain his answer, he points to the example of St. John the Baptist. Herod’s marriage to his brother’s wife wasn’t valid, and John spoke out against it. That’s what led to his imprisonment and death. Patrick imagines Herod visiting John in prison: “Can you picture Herod saying, ‘John, I know you disagree with my marriage but just come to the reception. Keep the peace. Have a good meal.’ Do you think John would have said yes?” Patrick pauses. “If St. John the Baptist wouldn’t go along to get along, why should we?”

For him, the choice is about integrity. A Catholic can love family without surrendering faith. In moments of tension, fidelity to Christ matters more than social comfort.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

When Melissa wrote to The Patrick Madrid Show, her email was simple and direct: she&rsquo;d been a bridesmaid in two weddings years ago, both involving Catholics who married outside the Church without dispensation. Now that she understands her faith better, she wonders if she sinned by participating.
Patrick begins with calm reassurance. &ldquo;If you didn&rsquo;t know the Church&rsquo;s teaching at the time, then no &ndash; you didn&rsquo;t sin,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t be guilty of what you didn&rsquo;t know.&rdquo; Ignorance doesn&rsquo;t excuse every act, but it removes moral culpability when the person truly doesn&rsquo;t understand what they&rsquo;re doing. Still, he added, &ldquo;If your conscience bothers you, bring it to confession. Just mention it briefly and leave it at the foot of the Cross.&rdquo;
Patrick then turns to the practical question: should Catholics attend such weddings? To explain his answer, he points to the example of St. John the Baptist. Herod&rsquo;s marriage to his brother&rsquo;s wife wasn&rsquo;t valid, and John spoke out against it. That&rsquo;s what led to his imprisonment and death. Patrick imagines Herod visiting John in prison: &ldquo;Can you picture Herod saying, &lsquo;John, I know you disagree with my marriage but just come to the reception. Keep the peace. Have a good meal.&rsquo; Do you think John would have said yes?&rdquo; Patrick pauses. &ldquo;If St. John the Baptist wouldn&rsquo;t go along to get along, why should we?&rdquo;
For him, the choice is about integrity. A Catholic can love family without surrendering faith. In moments of tension, fidelity to Christ matters more than social comfort.
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Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.