confirmation & divorce

[a8b8b8e8y8]

I’m not familiar with the process…so here’s my explanation…

I consider myself a relaxed, modern catholic, have been my entire life and I’ve been in the catholic school system since i was 3. I try to be realistic in participation and balance the church with everything that happens outside. I’m 26 now. In high school (1998-2000) I completed the entire confirmation process, but was unable to attend the required weekend retreat. I was not allowed to “make it up” so i was denied further participation in the sacrament. In Jan. of 2006 I was married by the country clerk to my then husband, a solider. The marriage became very abusive so I divorced him in November of 2006. In addition to that he changed his mind about wanting children. I am now starting RCIA classes to make my confirmation. How will the divorce impact my eligibility to make my confirmation? will it affect it at all? Do i need to have an annulment? I am not planning on remarrying…

 

[Phemie]

You were married outside the Church so your marriage is not presumed valid – unless you had obtained a dispensation from canonical form from your bishop at the time. To confirm this it is usually simply a matter of presenting a recent certificate of baptism, marriage certificate and divorce papers to the priest who will take the next step.

If you haven’t remarried, your marriage and divorce should have no impact at all on your reception of the sacrament of Confirmation.

 

[puzzleannie]

no you do not need to apply for an annulment unless you plant to marry again. since that is a good possibility at your age, it would be good to start now while it is easier to get documentation & witnesses, but it will not stand in the way of your confirmation. In any case you don’t need a full-blown annulment investigation, because you did not marry in the Church, but there is still a paperwork process that is easier to do now rather than later.
You should not need to go through the entire RCIA, but just fill in the gaps for what you missed as a youth. RCIA is for non-Catholics, although you may be in a class together, their process is not for you. Repeat you don’t need to take any action regardng your marriage to be confirmed.

 

[a8b8b8e8y8]

You should not need to go through the entire RCIA, but just fill in the gaps for what you missed as a youth. RCIA is for non-Catholics, although you may be in a class together, their process is not for you. Repeat you don’t need to take any action regardng your marriage to be confirmed.

Yes I know. The priest is not requiring me to participate in every class b/c I’ve had the education all my life. I’m not sure what the teachers will require of me considering they expected my there every week…thats to be decided next week.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Really, you should have your marriage looked into even if you plan to date. It should be a very simple procedure, since it is likely to be determined invalid due to lack of form, i.e., Catholics are required to marry in the Catholic Church (or with a dispensation) for validity.

 

[JerrySeibert]

Its awesome you are so into you faith to answer these questions.