Annulment from an Orthodox Faith

[MWL1125]

My wife was previously married in an arranged marriage in the Antioch Orthodox church (Eastern rite), you can see my previous question on this in my profile from a few days ago. She’s Roman Catholic (he was Orthodox). We are looking to have that marriage annulled. Before the two of us were married, we received an annulment of that first marriage directly from the Antioch Orthodox church Archdiocese, but the Roman Catholic (RC) priest we originally wanted to officiate our marriage said the annulment was “damning.” I have asked the local RC Archdiocese and they said the RC church recognizes marriages within the Antioch Orthodox as valid because they recognize the same sacraments. My question is if both churches recognize the same sacraments and validate each other’s marriages, should both churches not recognize the same annulment?

 

[Maximilian75]

@acanonlawyer may be able to help…

 

[PaulfromIowa]

As you were advised in your previous threads, please consult your Catholic pastor. He will need to consult the bishop and a canon lawyer. It can be resolved.

 

[MWL1125]

Thanks - I’ve recently been in touch with the Archdiocese and they’ve outlined the process for us. We are prepared to pursue it, but while filing out the form this evening, my wife asked this question and I didn’t have a good answer. I’m sure if I call the Diocese tomorrow they can tell me, but I was hoping to get her an answer this evening. As you can imagine, this is a touchy subject for her and I’m trying to help her through an emotional process 20 years after the fact that’s bringing up some old scars.

 

[Mtatum1958]

Better to wait and get a correct answer than to get a fast answer.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

It is a good question: If the Catholic Church recognizes Orthodox marriages, will they automatically accept an Orthodox decree of nullity?

 

[babochka]

Did you receive an annulment from the Orthodox church or an ecclesiastical divorce? Annulments are extraordinary rare in Orthodoxy.

 

[dochawk]

Did you receive an annulment from the Orthodox church or an ecclesiastical divorce? Annulments are extraordinary rare in Orthodoxy.

This.

OTOH, if she is Orthodox, Orthodox-Catholic agreements call for the marriage to be in her church too.

I assume that the Orthodox rules on marriage then apply, and that the valid-per-Orthodox marriage would be recognized, but we’re way past my pay grade.

However, if she is Orthodox, and marries in the Catholic church, her own church won’t recognize the marriage . . .

hawk

 

[babochka]

babochka:

Did you receive an annulment from the Orthodox church or an ecclesiastical divorce? Annulments are extraordinary rare in Orthodoxy.

This.

OTOH, if she is Orthodox, Orthodox-Catholic agreements call for the marriage to be in her church too.

I assume that the Orthodox rules on marriage then apply, and that the valid-per-Orthodox marriage would be recognized, but we’re way past my pay grade.

However, if she is Orthodox, and marries in the Catholic church, her own church won’t recognize the marriage . . .

hawk

The OP said that she is Roman Catholic. Regardless, a party must be free to marry in the Catholic Church for the marriage to be considered valid. This is definitely a matter for a tribunal.

 

[dochawk]

Hmm, I got this backwards on her church. This isn’t above my pay grade, but way above my pay grade . . .

However, I’ve got a pretty good idea what a tribunal is likely to do with an arranged purported marriage performed out of the RC church . . . especially if that was an EO annulment rather than divorce . . .

hawk

 

[acanonlawyer]

My question is if both churches recognize the same sacraments and validate each other’s marriages, should both churches not recognize the same annulment?

Presumptions regarding sacramental validity is one thing (and generally the Catholic Church recognizes Orthodox Sacraments but not necessarily the other way around) but judicial procedures and pronouncements are another.

A Catholic tribunal may not simply accept an Orthodox “annulment” but would accept evidence from that process.

Dan