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QUESTION: Hello, I am a practicing Catholic just engaged to a non-religious person. I would like to be married by a priest. My finance is divorced and was previously married in a civil ceremony to a Catholic. As they were married in a civil ceremony is an annulment a prerequisite? If so does it require the contacting/involvement of his ex-wife? A followup question: if we get married outside the RC church (which would only happen if an annulment required ex-wife involvement), I still would like any children that we would be blessed with to be raised Catholic, would there be any issue with them being baptised since their parents were not married in the RC church? Thanking you in advance.
ANSWER: Hi, Cliona:
Thanks for the questions.
1. Have you ever been married previously?
2. Did the first Catholic wife of your fiance have a "dispensation" from Canonical Form for the civil ceremony? In other words, did they even bother in any way to consult with the Priest and the authority of the Church concerning that marriage?
3. The "non-religious" person - what does that mean? Was he BAPTIZED ever? Or is he not baptized?
This information would assisit me in giving a more accurate answer...
Fr. Timothy Johnson
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Father Johnson,
Thank you very much for your fast answer. In response to your followup questions:
1. No, I have never been married
2. No his ex-wife never consulted with a Priest or other authority of the church concerning the marriage.
3. He was never baptized in any church.
Thanks again.
Hi, again, Cliona:
Fortunately there are no complications from you ever having been married previously.
The marriage between your fiancee and his first wife is a "Lack of Form Case." This means that it was never recognized by the Catholic Church as a valid Sacramental Marriage.
When you consult with the Priest for your marriage, he will help you do the paperwork for the "Lack of Form" of the previous marriage, since the woman he had married did not observe Canonical Form. This means that provided everything else is in place, he will be free to marry you.
The Priest you consult with will obtain for the two of you a "dipensation of disparity of cult", since he is not Baptized. You will also need to do whatever else may be required for your marriage preparation, such as a few conferences with the Priest or "Sponsoring Couple", and probably some kind of Marriage Preparation Weekend.
So it is up to you now to see and work with the local Priest in order to get married lawfully in the Catholic Church in a non-sacramental marriage contract (since he is not baptized), by the authority of the Catholic Church.
Then you can be in good standing and lead a sacramental life and practice your Faith as a Catholic, which would include raising your children Catholic.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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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.
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