A Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Prince Chidi Philip, has ignited widespread online debate after weighing in on the rules governing Christian marriage.
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The cleric argued that Christians — particularly Catholics — who conclude their marriage process with a traditional ceremony alone, without following through with a formal Church wedding, are committing a mortal sin. According to him, couples who cohabit or become intimate after only a traditional ceremony do so without the Church’s blessing and are, in effect, living in sin.
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In a post on his Facebook page, Philip wrote that as a Catholic priest, this is a position he intends to keep insisting on, even if it makes some people uncomfortable. He said Christians, especially Catholics, shouldn’t stop at a traditional marriage, but should follow it up with a Church wedding.
He expressed concern that many young Christians today are skipping Church weddings altogether, stressing that after a traditional marriage, couples do not have the right to be intimate until the marriage has been formally celebrated and blessed by the Church — arguing that doing so beforehand, without a valid Church marriage, still amounts to a mortal sin.
Philip also pointed out that a Church wedding is largely inexpensive and can even be held during a morning Mass, encouraging couples to simply approach their priest, complete the necessary preparations, and have their union blessed and recognized before God and the Church. He concluded by describing Church marriage as a serious obligation for Catholics — not something to be treated as optional — insisting that having one’s marriage properly celebrated according to Church law is a requirement, not a choice.
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