Annulment necessary?

[EsclavoDeCristo]

I should know this answer but I cannot remember what applies in this situation.

I recently went through RCIA as a sponsor. One of the other candidates (not the catechuman I was sponsoring) is a ‘revert’ to the faith. He was married outside of the church to an anti-Catholic woman who left him once he came back to the church.

Since they were married outside of the Church is their marriage considered valid? Should I advise him to seek an annulment?

Thanks and God bless you!

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

He needs to have the marriage tribunal objectively verify all the facts. But he should have no difficulty getting an annulment because the Catholic Church does not recognize the marriage of a Catholic which took place outside the Church without having obtained its permission.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.