You are here:
- Home
- Religion/Spirituality
- Christianity - Catholicism
- Catholics
- Remarraige in a Catholic Church
Catholics/Remarraige in a Catholic Church
Advertisement
Question
QUESTION: I am divorced, and wondering if I have grounds for a possible annulment. If my relationship with my current boyfriend were to progress, it would be important to him to be able to marry in the Catholic Church.. I don't believe he will feel able to explore the relationship further until we are reasonably sure that my situation is worth an annulment attempt..
The particulars are as follows:
I was baptized Catholic but raised in a Baptist Church. My former husband was baptized, confirmed, etc.. and raised in the Catholic Church, and called himself Catholic when we met.
We married in a Baptist Church. (Without any kind of permission from his Catholic church..)
Am I a clear candidate for an annulment, or do you see any potential difficulty within my situation, and why?
Any information you can give me will be so appreciated. I have spent hours on the internet trying to discern the answers and am getting a little confused. Thank you so much..
ANSWER: Hi, Rachael:
Thanks for the question.
Based upon what you describe, the situation does not sound like a matter for the process of anullment. In your first marriage, both of you were Catholics, but neither one of you observed Canonical Form for a lawful marriage by the Authority of the Catholic Church. The attempted marriage is considered non-sacramental and invalid by Church Law; therefore, it is a simple matter of presenting the circumstances to the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal of your location, and obtaining a Decree of Lack of Form. This clarifies the fact that since your former marriage was not lawful, you (and your former husband)are both free to marry.
You did not mention the status of the current boyfriend. Has he ever been married previously? If so, then the particulars of that situation would need to be analysed. If not, then it would seem he would be free to marry. You will need to see your local Priest in order to sort out the details concerning the necessary marriage prep to schedule a marriage.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I wrote you earlier, but I just had to tell you that I just did as you suggested and spoke to the Boston Archdiocese - they agreed with everything that you said. Thank you so much!! Can I also ask you this: I met my current boyfriend during the year-long divorce process, and we had sex before the divorce was final. I realize it was a sin, but I just need to know if it was a mortal sin (adultery) or not, given that the church considered my marraige both invalid and non-sacramental.. That was my last question, I promise! Thank you so much!
Hi, Rachael:
Sexual relations outside of marriage is always a mortal sin. Just make a good confession, put your hope and trust in the saving and forgiving power of Jesus Christ, and make good decisions into the future to get right with God in the state-of-life as a sacramentally lawafully and validly married person. God bless you.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Related Articles
- "I Knew in My Heart I Was Catholic" - Reader Stories: Why I Left the Catholic Church—and Why I Returned to Catholicism
- Annulment - Obtain an Annulment Through The Catholic Church
- Requirements for Marriage in the Catholic Church - Catholic Marriage Requirements
- Questions About Catholicism - Questions About Catholicism From Readers
- Why The Church Forbids Catholics To Marry Persons Who Have a Different Religion or No Religion at All? - Question 289 - Baltimore Catechism
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.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.