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Question
My name is Vanessa Coffee, I am 22 years old and I was raised Catholic all my life. I just recently married and due to family issues on his side we were not able to marry in the Catholic Church. However, I can still go to a Catholic Church I just cannot practice the faith how I would like. For example: I cannot receive Communion, go to confession or have my children baptized in the Catholic Church. These things are all very important to me and so my question is why is it this way and is there another way around it other than renewing our vows in the Church. Because what we need to make that happen cannot be accomplished due to the Church not allowing my husband to say "No, I have not been previously married". Instead his family has to go to a Bishop and tell him that and the Bishop has to then decide if we can validate our marriage in the Church? Why is it this way and What should I do?
Hi, Vanessa:
I am sorry that maybe I have not entirely understood your question, but I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.
It seems there must be some question about whether or not your current husband has been previously married, and they need to make certain that he is in fact FREE to get married to you (i.e. no previous marriage bond).
Be a good Catholic, and if he is free to marry, then have the Priest receive your marriage vows in the privacy of the presence of only the two required witnesses.
I am sorry that the family of your husband is such an obstacle or stumbling block.
If your husband (civilly married) is free to marry lawfully in the Catholic Church (by the authority of the Catholic Church), then you could even apply for a "Sanatio in Radice." Ask the Bishop about it... it is too much to explain here.
Are you from the U.S.A.? If not, this could be part of the difficulty of understading all the circumstances you describe, due to cultural situation differences.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
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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