You are here:
- Home
- Religion/Spirituality
- Christianity - Catholicism
- Catholics
- Civil Marriage - want to have marriage in church
Catholics/Civil Marriage - want to have marriage in church
Advertisement
Question
Hi Fr. Tim,
I'm hoping you can help me with this. I am a divorced Catholic and I received a declaration of nullity for my previous marriage. I am civilly married to a non-baptized person, who was married to a Mormon woman (not sure if she was baptized) at her home by a Mormon bishop. Because of her multiple lies and times of unfaithfulness during their marriage, my husband divorced. We currently have a son whom I am raising Catholic. I would like to have my marriage recognized by the Catholic church. My husband will not be baptized. What would be the process - a formal annulment request or something else? Thank you very much for your help.
Hi, Kelly:
Thanks for the question.
When I look at what you present, I am able to conclude so far that:
1. You are free to marry as a Catholic since you have an anullment.
2. Your civil marriage is to a non-baptized person; and he had been married to a Mormon, who in the eyes of the Catholic Church is not validly baptized anyway: so they had a natural, lawful contract union, not a Sacrament of Marriage.
3. Seems to me that the next thing to try at this point is to see whether you can get your current husband's marriage to his former wife "dissolved" - in favor of the Faith.
4. If such is granted, you would then have a lawful natural contract marriage with your husband, and be called to live peaceably, with him respecting your Catholic beliefs and practices.
5. He is not required to be baptized, as the Theological Virtue of Faith must be free, and have no obstacles.
6. GO SEE A LOCAL PRIEST WITH YOUR CASE.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
- Add to this Answer
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Fr. Tim was wonderful, very concise and to the point. Very helpful :) | ||
Related Articles
- The Sacrament of Marriage - Roman Catholic Marriage - The Sacrament of Marriage in the Roman Catholic Church
- Requirements for Marriage in the Catholic Church - Catholic Marriage Requirements
- Questions About Catholicism - Questions About Catholicism From Readers
- Roman Catholicism & Gay Marriage: Natural Law
- Roman Catholicism & Gay Marriage: Natural Law and Church/State Separation
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.