IndieCatholicMarriage.com
Who (and what) exactly are you?
My name is Jack Furlong, and I started Independent Catholic Marriage. I am ordained by the Church of the Open Road as a minister that can officiate weddings.
What is the Church of the Open Road?
The Church of the Open Road is a federally non-profit multi-denominational religious corporation located in Colorado. It allows its members to find their own way in spirituality. It provides me the clearinghouse to meet the secular demands of this job while remaining true to my spirituality.
Are you a member of the Church of the Open Road?
As a former Roman Catholic, I officially consider myself an Unaffiliated Independent Catholic who has received his ordination through the Church of the Open Road, which allows me to worship how I see fit. As someone who can officiate weddings, I consider the weddings I officiate to be the Sacrament of Marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
What is an Unaffiliated Independent Catholic? Is that the same as Roman Catholicism?
Independent Catholicism is another sect of the Catholic Church that has split away due to a schism, much like how the Orthodox Catholic Church split from the Roman Catholic Church (and then how the Protestant Church followed suit). Independent Catholicism is simply being Catholic without being in affiliation or in line with Rome or the pope. Being unaffiliated means that I do not belong to any particular jurisdiction of Independent Catholics.
Are you ordained? What do we call you?
In terms of the Catholic Church, I do not consider myself ordained. I consider myself a lay person. In terms of the Church of the Open Road, I am ordained. Thus, you do not have to call me Father Jack or Deacon Jack. I would much prefer you just call me Jack, but if you feel uncomfortable doing so, Reverend Jack is okay since I am technically ordained.
If you’re not ordained, why are you administering the Sacrament of Marriage? I thought only a priest or deacon could do that.
In many parts of the Catholic Church (especially Roman and Orthodox), that is correct: only ordained priests and deacons may perform weddings unless there is a special exception that is approved by the necessary powers that be. However, some sects of Independent Catholicism see the Sacraments as available to all, regardless of the previous rules. For example, Roman Catholicism technically only administers the Eucharist to baptized Catholics in good standing with the Church. By contrast, some Independent Catholic sects see the Eucharist as a gift from God available to all people, regardless of any sort of status, and welcome everyone to the Table of the Lord. In my opinion as an Independent Catholic, the Sacrament of Marriage is not only available to all people wishing to marry, but it may also be solemnized or performed by someone who is otherwise legally allowed to do so, much like how the Sacrament of Baptism can be performed by anyone as the situation requires.
Will my marriage be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as valid if you were to marry us?
It depends who you ask. By the strictest letter of Roman Catholic law, the answer is probably not. However, the Sacrament of Marriage is officially performed not by a presiding minister, but by the couple themselves! They take each other in matrimony, bestowing the Sacrament on each other. The priest is technically only there to witness it! Thus, this begs the question of why a priest or otherwise ordained minister must perform the ceremony for it to be considered valid in the Roman Catholic Church.
Consider this as well: Roman Catholic marriage has many different rules and regulations that would result in invalidity or “living in sin.” For example, Roman Catholic weddings must take place in a church; if you want your wedding to be in a park or on the beach, you won’t be able to have a Roman Catholic wedding. Similarly, many of the social constructs of Roman Catholicism that are related to marriage do not align with secular society today. Subjects such as contraception, premarital sex, homosexuality, etc., present problems when trying to align with Roman Catholicism. By contrast, many Independent Catholics (like myself) feel differently about these subjects than the Roman Catholic Church.
This whole thing sounds like a scam. Why do you do this?
It’s a long story, but I’ll try to sum it up.
I choose to do this because I’ve been there. I have wondered what is right for me when the constraints of the Roman Catholic Church have made me an outsider. I feel like I am called to some role where I can minister to others. Although my affiliated journey with Independent Catholics has been rerouted, I still feel like I have something to offer to people who are searching for answers.
Some Roman Catholics who are aware of Independent Catholicism view it as heresy, comparing us to false prophets who do not have the authority to represent God. The fact of the matter is that Independent Catholics are mostly made up of estranged Catholics who deeply value their Catholic religion but cannot agree with many of the rules imposed by the Roman Catholic Church. We do seek union with the Church to make it truly Catholic and universal, and we promote ecumenical dialogue towards that end.
I take this role seriously. I don’t officiate weddings just to do them, nor do I officiate every wedding I am offered. I decline to officiate some weddings based on believing the couple is getting married for the wrong reason (such as money or status). Marriage is a sacred union that symbolizes the love God has for all of Creation. Further, the weddings I officiate follow something of a Catholic script; I try not to deviate from that very much.
In short, I want to provide Catholic people the weddings they deserve but that they may not be able to receive from the Roman Catholic Church.
I don’t think this whole thing is right for me. What do you have to say to that?
That’s fine! I respect every person’s right to make these decisions, as they can be quite difficult. I do not wish ill on Roman Catholics or other Christians (or any religion, for that matter); I was Roman Catholic for much of my life! I’m simply doing what I feel I am called to do, much how each person chooses to do the same. God bless you! God loves you!
My name is Jack Furlong, and I started Independent Catholic Marriage. I am ordained by the Church of the Open Road as a minister that can officiate weddings.
What is the Church of the Open Road?
The Church of the Open Road is a federally non-profit multi-denominational religious corporation located in Colorado. It allows its members to find their own way in spirituality. It provides me the clearinghouse to meet the secular demands of this job while remaining true to my spirituality.
Are you a member of the Church of the Open Road?
As a former Roman Catholic, I officially consider myself an Unaffiliated Independent Catholic who has received his ordination through the Church of the Open Road, which allows me to worship how I see fit. As someone who can officiate weddings, I consider the weddings I officiate to be the Sacrament of Marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
What is an Unaffiliated Independent Catholic? Is that the same as Roman Catholicism?
Independent Catholicism is another sect of the Catholic Church that has split away due to a schism, much like how the Orthodox Catholic Church split from the Roman Catholic Church (and then how the Protestant Church followed suit). Independent Catholicism is simply being Catholic without being in affiliation or in line with Rome or the pope. Being unaffiliated means that I do not belong to any particular jurisdiction of Independent Catholics.
Are you ordained? What do we call you?
In terms of the Catholic Church, I do not consider myself ordained. I consider myself a lay person. In terms of the Church of the Open Road, I am ordained. Thus, you do not have to call me Father Jack or Deacon Jack. I would much prefer you just call me Jack, but if you feel uncomfortable doing so, Reverend Jack is okay since I am technically ordained.
If you’re not ordained, why are you administering the Sacrament of Marriage? I thought only a priest or deacon could do that.
In many parts of the Catholic Church (especially Roman and Orthodox), that is correct: only ordained priests and deacons may perform weddings unless there is a special exception that is approved by the necessary powers that be. However, some sects of Independent Catholicism see the Sacraments as available to all, regardless of the previous rules. For example, Roman Catholicism technically only administers the Eucharist to baptized Catholics in good standing with the Church. By contrast, some Independent Catholic sects see the Eucharist as a gift from God available to all people, regardless of any sort of status, and welcome everyone to the Table of the Lord. In my opinion as an Independent Catholic, the Sacrament of Marriage is not only available to all people wishing to marry, but it may also be solemnized or performed by someone who is otherwise legally allowed to do so, much like how the Sacrament of Baptism can be performed by anyone as the situation requires.
Will my marriage be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as valid if you were to marry us?
It depends who you ask. By the strictest letter of Roman Catholic law, the answer is probably not. However, the Sacrament of Marriage is officially performed not by a presiding minister, but by the couple themselves! They take each other in matrimony, bestowing the Sacrament on each other. The priest is technically only there to witness it! Thus, this begs the question of why a priest or otherwise ordained minister must perform the ceremony for it to be considered valid in the Roman Catholic Church.
Consider this as well: Roman Catholic marriage has many different rules and regulations that would result in invalidity or “living in sin.” For example, Roman Catholic weddings must take place in a church; if you want your wedding to be in a park or on the beach, you won’t be able to have a Roman Catholic wedding. Similarly, many of the social constructs of Roman Catholicism that are related to marriage do not align with secular society today. Subjects such as contraception, premarital sex, homosexuality, etc., present problems when trying to align with Roman Catholicism. By contrast, many Independent Catholics (like myself) feel differently about these subjects than the Roman Catholic Church.
This whole thing sounds like a scam. Why do you do this?
It’s a long story, but I’ll try to sum it up.
I choose to do this because I’ve been there. I have wondered what is right for me when the constraints of the Roman Catholic Church have made me an outsider. I feel like I am called to some role where I can minister to others. Although my affiliated journey with Independent Catholics has been rerouted, I still feel like I have something to offer to people who are searching for answers.
Some Roman Catholics who are aware of Independent Catholicism view it as heresy, comparing us to false prophets who do not have the authority to represent God. The fact of the matter is that Independent Catholics are mostly made up of estranged Catholics who deeply value their Catholic religion but cannot agree with many of the rules imposed by the Roman Catholic Church. We do seek union with the Church to make it truly Catholic and universal, and we promote ecumenical dialogue towards that end.
I take this role seriously. I don’t officiate weddings just to do them, nor do I officiate every wedding I am offered. I decline to officiate some weddings based on believing the couple is getting married for the wrong reason (such as money or status). Marriage is a sacred union that symbolizes the love God has for all of Creation. Further, the weddings I officiate follow something of a Catholic script; I try not to deviate from that very much.
In short, I want to provide Catholic people the weddings they deserve but that they may not be able to receive from the Roman Catholic Church.
I don’t think this whole thing is right for me. What do you have to say to that?
That’s fine! I respect every person’s right to make these decisions, as they can be quite difficult. I do not wish ill on Roman Catholics or other Christians (or any religion, for that matter); I was Roman Catholic for much of my life! I’m simply doing what I feel I am called to do, much how each person chooses to do the same. God bless you! God loves you!
