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I was baptized and I believe also confirmed Catholic in 1994 when I was 19. My future Mother in law was my sponsor and went to all my RCIA classes with me. I was baptized on Easter 1994. Unfortunately, that marriage ended in divorce and was later annulled in a request started by my former Husband and his family. I stopped going to Church because I was told that I was unholy and could no longer take communion because I was divorced. I loved and still love my former in-laws, but they are the ones that got these beliefs in my head. I am re-married to a man that went to catholic school his whole life but I don't believe he was ever baptized Catholic. We have a son who is almost two. Our marriage was outside the Catholic church. I strongly believe in my faith and would like to start going to a catholic Church immediately. I am just so confused on what is morally right and wrong? Can I take communion? Just because I was divorced and re-married outside the Catholic faith, am I un-holy? Are there records I can check regarding the reason given for the annullment? Please help.
Hi, April:
Thanks for the questions...
I would heartily recommend that you make an appointment at your local parish with somebody who assists the Priest in preparing Marriage Tribunal matters in order to sort thru things in greater detail. The straightforward answers to your questions below:
1. You may attend Mass immediately; but until your situation in regards to marriages, etc. is sorted out, you would refrain from approaching Holy Communion.
2. What is morally right and wrong is rooted in good reason, the positive batural law of God, and the teachings of Jesus Christ as presented by the Holy Catholic Church.
3. You are presently unreconciled with God and the Church; but I would encourage you to pursue the anullment process, etc.
Now I have my own questions:
1. If your former husband got a Catholic Church Anullment, then you must have been notified; if this is true, then you must have a written paper of a Decree of Nullity in your possession?
2. Was the man you have now married ever been married before?
3. Ask the Marriage Tribunal about what records you have a right to see or not see...
I am a little confused, too; but if you can start sorting these matters out, you can work toward dispelling all that confusion... I wish you the very best!
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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