Legally married

[Taxing Matters]

Yes, well they have a marriage license, and a marriage certificate. The "pastor" is not officially a pastor. He went to school and all, but he has never been made a "clergyman " , that won't happen until this July, he is not really a pastor.

What does it mean that he is not “officially” a pastor? What exactly makes a pastor? At the time he performed the ceremony, what was left for him to do to be recognized as a pastor in the religion that is involved here?

 

[Zigner]

What does it mean that he is not “officially” a pastor? What exactly makes a pastor?

...at what point of his education is a Catholic priest allowed to perform weddings by the Church?

(I'm not saying that the person in question is [or will be] a Catholic priest - it's just food for thought.)

Another thing to think about is this: Few pastors-in-training would risk being thrown out of the church for performing an illegal ceremony.


ETA: The second point is for the OP, not you, Taxing.

 

[HRZ]

OP / mom...my guess as a layman ...and reader of some other similar posts about flaws as to officiant is that daughter will find it faster and cheaper to get divorced than to purse the road of attempting to prove no marriage took place ..which probably ends with needing a divorce afterall.