Can I be accepted into the Catholic Church (sacrament of Confirmation)

[Prince_Hal]

Can some clarify. I was baptised Anglican as a child. I then was baptised a Mormon when I was an adult. I was married in the mormon temple to my wife who I believe was not baptised except in the mormon church. We were divorced. I remarried a mormon who was only baptised in the mormon church. We were married in the mormon temple. I would like now to join the Catholic Church. My wife most certainly does not.

Question: Is there any impediment in my marital situation that would stop this ? As an Anglican baptism is acceptable, I know that I would not need to be re-baptised.

God bless,

Hal.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

You should talk to a Catholic priest about this and lay out all the details. At first glance it would appear that you would need to seek a declaration of nullity for your first marriage (without this the Church would assume you are still married to your first wife). But every situation is unique, so you need to contact the priest at your local parish.

 

[brockmac]

This one might do better on the “Ask an Apolgist” thread or better yet, speak with a priest or bishop in your diocese. My gut response is that if you want to enter into communion with Rome, you should be able to, but I don’t know what role the divorce and re-marriage play.

 

[FrDavid96]

Can some clarify. I was baptised Anglican as a child. I then was baptised a Mormon when I was an adult. I was married in the mormon temple to my wife who I believe was not baptised except in the mormon church. We were divorced. I remarried a mormon who was only baptised in the mormon church. We were married in the mormon temple. I would like now to join the Catholic Church. My wife most certainly does not.

Question: Is there any impediment in my marital situation that would stop this ? As an Anglican baptism is acceptable, I know that I would not need to be re-baptised.

God bless,

Hal.

Hal,

The good news is: Yes, it is possible.

But that doesn’t mean it will be simple. You realy need to speak to the priest at your local Catholic parish.

 

[Prince_Hal]

My first marriage was not a sacramental marriage however as it was in the mormon temple. mormon baptism for example is not accepted as being valid by he Catholic church. neither my first wife or I were Catholic. does this not have a bearing on things ?

God bless,

Hal.

 

[Aramis]

My first marriage was not a sacramental marriage however as it was in the mormon temple. mormon baptism for example is not accepted as being valid by he Catholic church. neither my first wife or I were Catholic. does this not have a bearing on things ?

God bless,

Hal.

If you were both Mormon, and neither had been catholic before becoing mormon, a mormon wedding is in the category of “natural marriage”… a decree of nullity might be needed to recognize the current marriage.

It won’t preclude your reception, either way, but it may affect how you are expected to live after reception.

Check with the pastor of your local parish.

 

[FrDavid96]

My first marriage was not a sacramental marriage however as it was in the mormon temple. mormon baptism for example is not accepted as being valid by he Catholic church. neither my first wife or I were Catholic. does this not have a bearing on things ?

God bless,

Hal.

Hal,
Yes, all the details you’ve given have a bearing on things. But the bottom line is that it is still possible for you to become a Catholic. There’s going to be some paperwork (ok, a fair amount of it), but don’t let that discourage you. No matter what happened, or what other details are involved, it will always be possible for you to become Catholic if that’s what you ultimately decide (and of course, I hope and pray you do!)

 

[kevangreen]

Hal,
Yes, all the details you’ve given have a bearing on things. But the bottom line is that it is still possible for you to become a Catholic. There’s going to be some paperwork (ok, a fair amount of it), but don’t let that discourage you. No matter what happened, or what other details are involved, it will always be possible for you to become Catholic if that’s what you ultimately decide (and of course, I hope and pray you do!)

The problem is that the Catholic church does not recognize the mormon baptism as a real one. So basically you would have to get baptized, either by immersion or sprinkling. And she would still be a mormon unless she went to the catholics. But we believe as most Catholics do. Whether or not she is baptized you will still see her in heaven, if she lives her life to gods will and the ten commandment, basically you don’t have to be part of the team to win the championship, as long as you follow us.

 

[kevangreen]

Can some clarify. I was baptised Anglican as a child. I then was baptised a Mormon when I was an adult. I was married in the mormon temple to my wife who I believe was not baptised except in the mormon church. We were divorced. I remarried a mormon who was only baptised in the mormon church. We were married in the mormon temple. I would like now to join the Catholic Church. My wife most certainly does not.

Question: Is there any impediment in my marital situation that would stop this ? As an Anglican baptism is acceptable, I know that I would not need to be re-baptised.

God bless,

Hal.

The second part is that since you were baptized in a christian church first then you are christian to us. We think of mormon baptism as someone taking a swim.

 

[Seatuck]

Hal,
Yes, all the details you’ve given have a bearing on things. But the bottom line is that it is still possible for you to become a Catholic. There’s going to be some paperwork (ok, a fair amount of it), but don’t let that discourage you. No matter what happened, or what other details are involved, it will always be possible for you to become Catholic if that’s what you ultimately decide (and of course, I hope and pray you do!)

Hi Hal,

I agree with FrDavid96 on this one. You are going to need to do a little work toward this but it is very possible that it will all work out to you being able to join us in the church in a way that will satisfy.

Praying that it all works out.

 

[Prince_Hal]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will make arrangements to see the local pastor.

Thank you all.

Hal.

 

[Prince_Hal]

I spoke to Jim Blackburn, one of the apologists at Catholic Answers.

Not a problem regarding my marriage. It is a natural marriage and not a sacramental marriage. So also was my previous marriage. So the divorce was a divorce of a natural marriage. So, no annulment needed.

My Anglican baptism suffices.

Thanks for all of your help.

God bless,

Hal.

 

[Prince_Hal]

Well I now have my answer. Whether the marriage was natural or sacramental does not matter, whether it is valid or not does.

So the Catholic Church recognizes a civil or another religion’s marriage (even a Mormon marriage) as being potentially valid. What I need to now do is to show that my first mormon marriage is invalid. As a consequence my second marriage (my current marriage) would be valid. I think that this is a bit harsh in that I had to get divorced - my wife left me for someone else - and I had no contact with the Catholic church to tell me not to marry the second time.

Now there are some very strong reasons to support my first marriage being invalid - so for me there is significant hope. However, there may well be many people for whom there first marriage is valid and they are trapped. But then it is all down to the definition of validity.

Here’s hoping and praying.

God bless,

Hal.