Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 1/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: my Catholic daughter wants to get married in the Catholic Church. Her Fiancee (bon Catholic) was previously married (to a non-Catholic) in a non-denominational chapel in Vegas and subsequently got a divorce. Does she have to go through an annullment? If so where does she start?

ANSWER: Peace


dear George
      Your daughter's fiancee would have to go through the process, not her. He would ask his parish's pastor to start it or he would direct him to another priest.
         your servant but His first
         George



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If he is a non-Catholic then would he have to start the annullment process with any Catholic priest

ANSWER: Peace

dear George,
   Sorry  for the mix-up, I understood him to still be Catholic. The nearest priest, could start the process or direct him to one that can.
         George

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK
they need to get an unnullment
They do not want to start the procedure because they think that his son would be known as a bastard or a son gotten out of wedlock!
Even though the son was not conceived by him!
What are the ramifications and procedures for an annullment and is the above close to being true?
Is the process so lengthy that it could take 1 - 3 years?

If the answer is yes to any of the above then we have some lost souls to deal with!
thnx

G

Answer
Peace

The length depends how much of a conflict there seems to between the witnesses and other facts of the case. The average in the U.S.A, the last I read was about 6 months.

Even if the case were to be lengthy, it wouldn't effect the standing of the unborn child.

As reminder: we are to judge acts, not souls. Remember God's vision and mercy is greater than our own.

         Be assure of His grace and my prayers
         George