Catholics/Catholic Remarriage

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 12/30/2009


Question
Hello, I've been divorced for 2 years, and my marriage has been granted an annulment 6 months ago. So I guess technically I'm single...anyhow my question is this, can I marry a non-catholic who has been twice divorced? I know, red flags should be popping up, but I've known him since we were kids (I'm 37 and he's 45) and things have just been going really well. We've talked about marriage and I'm concerned about not being able to receive Eucharist if I marry this man. Also my biological clock is ticking away and I'd love to have children (the reason why my marriage was granted an annulment) and this man is with whom I want to have children with. What steps would he have to take to be allowed to marry in the Catholic Church. Thank you.

Answer
Hi, Jennifer:
Thanks for the question...
Yes - plenty of red flags, I agree; but, if you wish to pursue and look into the matter, you will need to present the specific circumstances to the Priest whom you would be approaching to request possible marriage prep.  The Church would need to know whether this non-Catholic man is also non-Baptized - because if he isn't, one could look into the possibility of dissolution of the previous marriage bonds "in favor of the Faith."
But if he is validly baptized, then it would be necessary to look into the past marriages through the Catholic Marriage Tribunal to whether anything presents itself as grounds for a decree of nullity.
Merry Christmas!

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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