Non-Catholic Religious Marriages in Spain

Abstract

For a period of thirteen years some Spanish citizens were discriminated against. Non-Catholics could not celebrate their marriage according to their religion unless they got married in a State in wich that religion was recognized in accordance with the lex loci Additionally, already performed non-Catholics marriages were not considered to be a barrier to a subsequent marriage. Now, since 1992 the accords that exist between Spain and the Spanish Federation of Evangelical Entities, the Spanish Federation of the Israelite Communities and the Spanish Muslim Commission is possible to celebrate evangelical, Jewish or muslim marriages. But, the Spanish Ministry of Justice took good care to impose a minimum standard without wich a religious marriage could not have civil effects. This minimum standard is included in the three covenants and meets the requirements set out for a Spanish civil marriage.