Concerned about friend

[Maria1234]

I have a friend that is planning on getting married in the Catholic Church. She was married in a non-denominational church to her atheist husband. She has divorced her husband and is marrying another person who is Catholic. Is her divorce valid or not-valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church since she married an atheist? If valid should she have to get an annulment before she can marry in the Catholic Church? I am concerned that they do not know her previous history and she might be misleading her new fiance into an adulterous situation.

Thanks…

 

[Sunniva]

It’s only the Tribunal who can deem a marriage valid or non-valid. Persons in a forum can’t do that. But we can speculate whether there can be circumstances that can indicate whether a marriage might be valid or not.

Unfortunately, you haven’t given us much to go on. First and most important. Is you friend a Catholic who haven’t left the Church with a formal act?

Catholics are required by Church law to be married in Church officiated by a priest or a deacon in the presence of two witnesses (unless they have been granted a dispensation).

Marriages by non-Catholics (by JP, in their own church, jumping a broom etc.) are considered valid unless proven otherwise. If both persons are baptised it’s a sacramental marriage. If one person or both is not baptised it’s a valid and natural marriage.

 

[puzzleannie]

if she is getting married in a Catholic church you have to assume she is going through whatever process is required, and that her previous marriage has been asked about and she has been given instruction on how to proceed. You cannot second-guess her pastor. If, on the other hand, you have a definite reason to believe she is deliberately lying or deceiving her new husband or her pastor, it is your duty to speak out.

 

[stbruno]

#1 suggestion. Speak to your friend, perhaps she has received an annulment. Maybe she is not aware she needs one. However, if she does not divest the information about her prior wedding to the priest/deacon who is preparing the couple for marriage, then she is lying under oath. Each person who is preparing for marriage is asked to swear on the bible specific testimony…if she does not disclose this then she is lying. Also two witnesses who have known her adult life are asked to verify whether she is free to marry in the church. Prior to the wedding, banns…or announcments are usually printed in the church bulletin three weeks before the wedding date…not only to announce or pray for the couple intending marriage, but to also allow time for anyone to come forward who has a question about the ability for these two to be wed. You may not know everything about your friend…but you should definitely direct her in the proper direction.

It is not intrusive but definitely in her best interest to follow your conscience in this matter. Pray on it. Also check out this website for marriage questions…www.inthespiritofcana.org