Catholic Perspective
The Catholic Church accepts arranged marriages, but rejects forced marriages. Arranged marriages are the choice of either man or women to accept or reject the marriage. Forced marriages are forced against the will of the couple or person. The Catholic Church believes that marriage is a sacrament of grace and Holy Matrimony. The Catechism states that, "It is imperative to give suitable and timely instruction to young people above all in the heart of their own families, about the dignity of married love, its role and its exercise, so that, having learned the value of chastity, they will be able at a suitable age to engage in honorable courtship and enter upon a marriage of their own." (CCC#1632) In other words, it states that the choice should always be given, even in an arranged marriage, in order that the marriage will be solid and last longer. It also states that if is lack or freedom is lacking there is no marriage or the marriage is invalid. They believe that marriage should not be arranged for you against your will. If the marriage is arranged and the couple agrees, the Catholic Church accepts it. The couple is initially entitled to a decision, whether or not they want to marry in truth.