Catholics/remarriage and children

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 3/19/2008


Question
My fiance and I are both baptized and confirmed Roman Catholics.  I have never been married, he is divorced.  His first wife was also Catholic and they had a Catholic service.  They married young and after a few years realized they no longer wanted the same things.  He does not want to seek the possibility of an annulment out of respect for his previous relationship.

Since I have never been married can we still be married in our church?  If we marry civilly would our children be permitted to receive baptism and confirmation?

Answer
Hi, sara:
Thanks for the question.
Without his having an anulment, he is not free to marry lawfully in the Catholic Church, because of the impediment of ligamen (prior bond).  I would recommend that he look into the anullment process as a vehicle of healing, and coming to the truth about the possible invalidity of the previous relationship due to factors that, while unfortunate, seem to be facts nevertheless.
Children are not held accountable for the actions and decisions of parents as regards an invalid attempted marriage; though you could well imagine that it is difficult to raise children to practice the Catholic Religion without the modeling of the parents' behavior.
You really ought to run this matter past your local Priest.

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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