Expert: Tom Schott - 3/8/2009

Question
I was married in a Catholic church in 1964 to a non-Catholic Christian, and divorced 11 years afterward.  I went through the lengthy Catholic annulment process along with my 2nd husband who had been married once before in a Christian marriage and divorced.  The 2 of us married in 1984 in his church - a Baptist church by a Baptist minister.  That's been 25 years ago.  Can I now have our marriage blessed by a priest, or should we actually be re-married by the priest now.  Should I be asking to have our marriage blessed or renew vows?  Should I be refraining from the sacraments?

Answer
Geri,

You can most certainly have your marriage blessed. You will have to have you pastor submit a form to the bishop to correct what is called "defect of form" with your second marriage. Basically that means you got married in something other than a Catholic church without obtaining permission of the diocese. It's not problem, and takes no time at all. (Please note that if your current husband was divorced when you married him, any previous marriages of his must be annulled.)

You would be having your marriage blessed, not being remarried.

Technically, as person divorced and not remarried in the Catholic church, you should not be receiving the sacraments. Just go see your priest and straighten out your little problem, and all will be well.

God bless.