Annulment

[azzymw]

I am very dedicated to becoming a Eucharist partaking catholic. I have been married, divorced, and remarried have one child by second marriage. I will talk to a priest and begin the annulment process for my first marriage shortly. I am wondering what really makes a marriage valid for those of us not born into the catholic faith. My first husband and I were both baptized in our religion but it was not a trinitairian religion. I suppose more importantly what would make a marriage unvalid, as in what kind of information do I need to disclose as I go through the annulment process?

 

[mommyof4]

Some of your questions may be answered at this site:

ewtn.com/expert/answers/annulment.htm

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

I am very dedicated to becoming a Eucharist partaking catholic. I have been married, divorced, and remarried have one child by second marriage. I will talk to a priest and begin the annulment process for my first marriage shortly. I am wondering what really makes a marriage valid for those of us not born into the catholic faith. My first husband and I were both baptized in our religion but it was not a trinitairian religion. I suppose more importantly what would make a marriage unvalid, as in what kind of information do I need to disclose as I go through the annulment process?

Definitely disclose the fact that neither you nor your first husband were baptized properly, nor were you married in the Church. I think you would be almost assured an annulment under Pauline Privilege. Neither my first husband nor I had been baptized and our annulment went through lightning fast. I still had to fill out a very long questionaire. I would suspect that you will too. Don’t worry about knowing what to disclose, they will ask all the questions they need to.

 

[cameron_lansing]

Definitely disclose the fact that neither you nor your first husband were baptized properly, nor were you married in the Church. I think you would be almost assured an annulment under Pauline Privilege. Neither my first husband nor I had been baptized and our annulment went through lightning fast. I still had to fill out a very long questionaire. I would suspect that you will too. Don’t worry about knowing what to disclose, they will ask all the questions they need to.

The Pauline privilege is not a decree of nullity or “annulment” which indicates that the original marriage was invalid. To the contrary, it is a dissolution of a valid marriage. There are however conditions to be met and some information to be obtained before the privilege can be declared and exercised. These can best be explained by the parish priest for the OP.

If the use of this privilege is not possible for some reason (such as the inability to prove lack of valid trinitarian baptism or the fact that the other party was subsequently baptized validly), then another process would be followed.

The priest that our OP meets with will obtain all the necessary information and assist azzymw in pursuing the appropriate process. He will also examine the freedom of her current husband, since both would need to be established free to marry in the Church.

He would also inquire, for example, as this thread has not, about whether the first husband of the OP had been married before and the putative validity of that marriage, before conjecturing about the situation and what process might be indicated.

 

[azzymw]

My ex-husband and I had neither one been married, and after much soul searching I feel that our marriage was valid, I screwed up and sinned against him and God for which I’m very sorry and have repented for, so I feel like it would be up to him as to whether he would want the marriage dissolved, and that could only be by me seperating from my current husband, being baptized and since my ex is not baptized the “Pauline rule” could be excersized if he so desired, but how would I explain all that to my husband who is baptist.

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

The Pauline privilege is not a decree of nullity or “annulment” which indicates that the original marriage was invalid. To the contrary, it is a dissolution of a valid marriage. There are however conditions to be met and some information to be obtained before the privilege can be declared and exercised. These can best be explained by the parish priest for the OP.

If the use of this privilege is not possible for some reason (such as the inability to prove lack of valid trinitarian baptism or the fact that the other party was subsequently baptized validly), then another process would be followed.

The priest that our OP meets with will obtain all the necessary information and assist azzymw in pursuing the appropriate process. He will also examine the freedom of her current husband, since both would need to be established free to marry in the Church.

He would also inquire, for example, as this thread has not, about whether the first husband of the OP had been married before and the putative validity of that marriage, before conjecturing about the situation and what process might be indicated.

You’re right, I stand corrected. Although I’ve never heard it referred to in these terms. Here is a nice site that has a brief Q and A format about these issues.

 

[puzzleannie]

I I suppose more importantly what would make a marriage unvalid, as in what kind of information do I need to disclose as I go through the annulment process?

there is no way anyone on this board can offer an answer to a question about a specific marriage. That is the purpose of the tribunal investigation. I assume you have already initiated the process. the Catholic Church assumes that every marriage is valid until proven otherwise. A marriage between two validly baptized persons is also sacramental.

Among the things covered in your interview and the investigation: baptismal status of both husband and wife, and of partners in any previous marriage of either party. the many threads here on this topic offer very good links that explain the process, and the conditions necessary for a valid marriage, and reasons why a decision of non-validity resulting in a decree of nullity would be issued. Be honest and complete in your testimony, spend time considering who you should suggest as witnesses, and provide all necessary paperwork you are asked for.