Actually, the Catholic Church recognizes ALL validly performed marriages!  Now, there are several distinctions that the Church makes.  The presumed norm is that a couple share the Catholic faith.  However, a Catholic may validly marry another Christian who is not Catholic, including a Baptist (as per your example).  For this, they need the permission of the Bishop (a pro forma piece of paperwork); but even without that, such a marriage would still be valid (but illicit).  And the marriage between two baptized persons is considered "sacramental," since both are baptized into the mystery of Christ and share in the sacramental life of his grace.

     The Church also recognizes marriages between Catholics and non-Christians (ie, Jews, Muslims, Unitarians, and even atheists).  For this, the couple needs a dispensation from the Bishop for what is called "Disparity of Cult."  Cult here is not the negative term used for harmful controlling religious groups but cult in the sense of cultic practice of worship.  The Christian who marries a non-Christian simply does not share the same worship of the one God; and the Church recognizes this disparity.  Indeed, this bond is not called sacramental (since both parties do not recognize Christ, the primary sacrament and source of all sacraments).  It is simply called a "natural bond."

     Interestingly, the Church ALSO recognizes as valid the marriages of non-Catholic people!  This can come up when a non-Catholic who was married before to a non-Catholic wishes to marry a Catholic.  The Catholic Church considers their vows sacred promises to be married "as long as they both shall live" unless that marriage has been found to be null do to a grave defect.

     The reason for this wide recognition of marriage is quite simple: of the seven Sacraments practiced by the Church, one was practiced long before Christ came.  And that one is marriage.  Indeed, there is a beautiful line in the nuptial blessing that claims that "marriage was the one good not lost by original sin nor washed away in the flood."

     Marriage goes wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back!


     Now, it may be that the particular marriage you are thinking of is not recognized for other reasons.  First, the Catholic party is bound by what is called the "matter and form" of the sacrament.  This means that the marriage is presumed to take place in a Catholic church (the norm when both parties are Catholic).  However, this norm is also frequently dispensed in a so-called "mixed" marriage, and the marriage can take place in the non-Catholic Christian party's church.

      So, it may be that the particular marriage you are thinking of is not recognized because it was not done in a Catholic Church NOR done with the dispensation to do it elsewhere.  Now, this couple may be free to have the Church bless their marriage in what is called a "convalidation."  Then the Church would recognize it.  However, again, it might be that their is an impediment (usually a previous marriage) which might prevent this.

     My ultimate point is that each case differs.  And there are other impediments (mental capacity, relation by blood or adoption, etc).  But in general, for a couple entering into their first marriage, there is nothing to prevent a Catholic from marrying a non-Catholic Christian in the Catholic Church.

I hope this helps!

Grace and Peace,
Fr. Chris

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