Baguio Diocese warns public vs group officiating weddings not tied to Church

BAGUIO CITY — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Baguio has issued a formal clarification to prevent confusion among the faithful regarding wedding ceremonies being organized by a religious group not affiliated with the Catholic Church.

In an advisory, the diocese, through Chancellor Fr. Abner W. Dalilis, informed parish leaders and secretaries that a group calling itself the Roman Catholic Society of St. John the Baptist is not connected with the local diocese nor with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

The clarification followed reports of a wedding event scheduled by the group from Feb. 25 to 28 at the Baguio Country Club.

The diocese stressed that since the group is not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, any wedding rites it performs are not recognized as valid sacraments under Church law.

Church officials urged individuals who wish to celebrate the sacrament of matrimony to coordinate directly with their respective parishes. The circular emphasized that following proper canonical procedures ensures marriages are validly celebrated, properly recorded in parish registries, and supported by appropriate civil documentation.