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Catholics/Mixed marriage to a divorced person

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 4/12/2011


Question
Hi,  I am catholic, never been married, and want to marry a non catholic who has been married in a civil ceremony to another non catholic.  Can I be married in the church?

Answer
Hi, Ken:

Thanks for the questions.
It seems to me that you are asking "what you have to do to be able to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage as a Baptized Catholic under the Apostolic Authority of the Catholic Church that Christ founded?"  The best practical advice I can giev you is to forthrightly and honestly present yourself and your circumstances to your local Parish Priest to see about this matter.
I do not know whether the non-Catholics you describe were Baptized people, or non-Baptized.  This would make a difference.  If they were both baptized, then regardless of where and how a marriage ceremony took place, it could possibly have been valid and sacramental; and for this reason, it would need to be subject to the Marriage Tribunal in a Formal Anullment proceeding.  If either one was not baptized, the marriage may have been lawful but non-sacramental.  In such a case, one might pursue a dissolution of the natural-bond marriage "in favor of the Faith."  These details will need to be sorted out for your particular circumstances.  I only share them as possible things that may come to light as you pursue this matter in person, at the local level.  God bless you; and I wish you the very best!

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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