Annulment for Non-Catholic

[Hibernian]

I have a friend who may be considering entering the Catholic Church. He was Baptized in the Episcopalian church, and left due to general agnosticism.

Later in life, he married a Catholic woman, in a Catholic (Latin rite) marriage. They divorced within two years. No annulment.

In recent months he has had an adult return to Christ. We converse on Catholic doctrines, and I want to present the correct procedure for him to come into communion with the church.

Does a non-Catholic need an annulment from a Catholic marriage, to become a Catholic in full communion with the church? As a non-believer at the time (although validly baptized), was he morally culpable in his marriage vows/sacrament. If he becomes a Catholic (on his own free will of course), is there any possiblity he can ever be validly (in eyes of the Church) married again?

I appreciate any response.

 

[CARose]

Hi Hi,

A valid marriage is a valid marriage for both parties, just as an invalid marriage is invalid for both. Hence, if your friend wishes to enter the Church and be able to subsequently marry, he may want to look into an annulment. Just because it was performed in a Catholic Church doesn’t ensure that it was valid. It is possible that either one or the other weren’t truly intending to commit for life at the time of the wedding, or that they weren’t open to having children. There are several conditions that must be met at the time of the wedding for the marriage to subsequently be valid. If it was valid at the moment of the wedding, changes of opinion on these same points does not invalidate the marriage.

Hope this helps,

CARose