AboutFr. 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, and so am entering into my 7th year of Sacred Ministry.
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.
Question Hello.
I am divorce catholic woman. we did not marry in the church, neither talk to any priest about our marry. This is my only time that I was married. He is catholic too, but he was marry 3 times before and one of them in a catholic church.
I live in US, but I want to marry in Peru where I born.
Will I be able to marry catholic? Are the rules for Catholics the same in all the Catholic countries?
Thank you
Answer Hi, Katia:
Thanks for the question...
The fact that a truly sacramental marriage between two baptized persons (one man and one woman) cannot be dissolved is the teaching of Christ Himself - not just some "rule" of the Catholic Church.
Your former "marriage" from which you have now divorced was NOT sacramental because it was not lawful and done under the Apostolic Authority of the Catholic Church to which Jesus Christ gave the Apostles and their successors the Authority of "binding and loosing." Therefore, since you did not observe a lawful marriage by the Authority of the Catholic Church, and you were and are a Baptized Catholic, your attempted marriage was not lawful - because of the Apostolic Authority of binding you to observe or be dispensed from the lawful Catholic form of Marriage made your former "attempt" at marriage non-sacramental, and therefore invalid in the eyes of the Church.
Go and see a Priest and present your situation to him; from what you describe, it sounds as though you probably ought to be able to marry lawfully in the Catholic Church, provided you do what you must to be under the lawful Apostolic Authority of the Church.
