An Overview of the Tensions Related to Mixed Marriages in Transylvania During the 18–20th Century
An Overview of the Tensions Related to Mixed Marriages in Transylvania During the 18–20th Century

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the evolution of ecclesiastic and civil legislation and the specific conflicts related to Catholic-Protestant marriages in Transylvania (Romania). In the 18th century Rome suggested that Protestant marriages were invalid, because of the conditional wedding formula. This allowed previously married Protestants to remarry in the Catholic Church, but society considered them bigamous. The Catholic bishop Zsigmond Sztoyka sent Rome an Information, sustaining the validity of Protestant marriages. Conflicts were also caused by the compulsory promise (“reversal”) Protestants had to make when marrying a Catholic, agreeing to the Catholic baptism of all the children. Nineteenth century civil legislation abrogated the reversal, and stipulated that baptism had to follow the religion of the same-sex parent. Subsequently many lawsuits were initiated against “mis-baptizing” Catholic priests. According to Romanian legislation (1928) the father decided about the religion of the children. However both Catholic and Protestant legislation severely sanctioned non-compliant faithful who baptized their children in another Church. The persisting conflicts are rooted in ecclesiology, and cannot be solved but by a re-interpretation of the own ecclesiological paradigm.

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