Annullment question

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Binary

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I hope this is the correct subforum for this subject.

My parents were married in the Catholic church. They divorced and remarried without seeking a decree of nullity. Last year my mother passed away. Does my father still need to request that his first marriage be annulled before he can receive the sacraments, or would confession be sufficient?
 
no the death of one spouse ends any irregularity there may have been in his situation. If his first spouse is still alive he would need an annulment of that first marriage before being free to marry again, but he can certainly return to the sacraments now at any time.

your story is not clear on chronology.

if your father has married another person who is still alive and they are still together, since the death of your mother ended that first marriage, he is now free to have that marriage convalidated and return to the sacraments, since death of either spouse ends the marriage.
 
I believe he can return to the sacraments, but he will also have to get his current “marriage” convalidated, or blessed by the Church before returning to the Eucharist, and other sacraments beyond Reconciliation.
He should approach his local priest, and he will direct him in the right way.
 
Thanks guys. It occurs to me that it may be impossible to get his marriage convalidated, since my stepmother was also previously married and didn’t seek an anullment after being divorced. Her previous husband (current husband in the eyes of the church I guess) is still alive. Does that mean convalidation isn’t an option?
 
Also, loving the quotation marks, Big_Feet. If you could limit your future responses to include only those in which you’re not being a dick, I’d appreciate it.
 
Binary said:
Thanks guys. It occurs to me that it may be impossible to get his marriage convalidated, since my stepmother was also previously married and didn’t seek an anullment after being divorced. Her previous husband (current husband in the eyes of the church I guess) is still alive. Does that mean convalidation isn’t an option?
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These situations are complex. The simplest answer is that the stepmother is presumed married to another, and thus not free to marry at this point your father at this point…i.e., no convalidation as of now. The stepmother would have to speak to a priest to start the process of receiving an annulment, if necessary, and take it from there.
 
Binary said:
I hope this is the correct subforum for this subject.

My parents were married in the Catholic church. They divorced and remarried without seeking a decree of nullity. Last year my mother passed away. Does my father still need to request that his first marriage be annulled before he can receive the sacraments, or would confession be sufficient?
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Has your step-mother been married before?


  1. *]If the answer is no, your father needs to have his marriage to her convalidated.
    *]If the answer is yes and she was widowed, your father needs to have his marriage to her convalidated.
    ]If the answer is yes and she is a divorcée, she needs to have her previous marriage annulled before the marriage between her and your father can be convalidated.

    *Making the assumption this has not already happened.
 
Binary said:
Thanks guys. It occurs to me that it may be impossible to get his marriage convalidated, since my stepmother was also previously married and didn’t seek an anullment after being divorced. Her previous husband (current husband in the eyes of the church I guess) is still alive. Does that mean convalidation isn’t an option?
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it means what has been stated, the only way they will get an answer that applies to their own personal situation is to visit the local Catholic pastor, tell him all the details of their situation, past marriages etc, and let him advise them on how to proceed. You cannot do this for them. What you can do is pray for them.
 
Your father and step-mother need to speak to a priest. She can apply for her own decree of nullity - there is not time constraint on that although remembering things may be a bit more difficult. If it is a lack of form issue the priest will be able to help them discern that as well. At the point where this is taken care of the current marriage can be convalidated assuming any current impediments are removed.
 
It really depends on the Priest and your relationship with the church. There likely will different responses from different Priests.

God Bless.
 
charliedrake said:
It really depends on the Priest and your relationship with the church. There likely will different responses from different Priests.

God Bless.
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It cannot depend on the whim and fancy of different priests. It must be done in accordance with canon law.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
It cannot depend on the whim and fancy of different priests. It must be done in accordance with canon law.
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The literal meanings of canon law allows room for interpretation. And the status within the church meaning relationships weighs heavily upon cooperation.
 
charliedrake said:
The literal meanings of canon law allows room for interpretation. And the status within the church meaning relationships weighs heavily upon cooperation.
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This is not a correct understanding of canon law. It is not left to an individual’s interpretation.
 
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