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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 11/21/2007


Question
QUESTION: Hello Father Johnson,
I am seeking some advice and guidance on marriage. My husband and I (whom were both raised Catholic) were wed in city hall recently and now would like to have the ceremony again in a Catholic church with our families. My husband also is previously divorced. Is this possible or will the church not allow us to have our ceremony there? We never went through pre-cana and just really don't know what our options are. Any answers would be helpful, thank you!
Katherine Fayad

ANSWER: Hi, Katherine:
Thanks for the question.
You are both Catholic; so I would need to know whether your husband, who is divorced, was married originally in the Catholic Church...
If he was married previously in the Catholic Church, then you are looking at ANNULMENT;
If he was NOT married in the Catholic Church previously, then you are likely looking at a "Lack of Form" Case, which is much easier...
You would need to run the particulars of the circumstances past the local Priest, who probably will tell you that he will not be able to proceed with much until about 1-year has elapsed since your recent city hall marriage ceremony.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help Father, my husband was married in an Orthodox church to his previous wife.

Answer
Hi, Katherine:

You will need to run this circumstance past the Catholic Priest.  It may be possible that you are looking at an annulment case for him, since the marriage in an Orthodox Church may have been valid, but illicit (unlawful).  The jurisdiction and validity of Sacraments within the Orthodox is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.

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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