Divorce and Communion

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BobinKy

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Is it possible for a person who has been divorced to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church?
 
Yes. Divorce is not an issue. The issue is remarriage without an annulment…
 
Contrary to popular opinion, the Church is not against divorce: we are against sex. Sex is permitted between the parties to a lifelong marriage with the intention of making babies. Anything else is potentially sinful. (Note the potentially - how many pages would you like?)

The Church does not recognise the dissolution of a valid marriage. Divorce or separation is not of itself a bar to the Sacraments. Sexual relations with anyone other than one’s original spouse is.
 
OK, please let me rephrase the question.

Is is possible for someone who has received a civil divorce and remarried, to become a Catholic and receive communion in a Catholic church?
 
BobinKy said:
OK, please let me rephrase the question.

Is is possible for someone who has received a civil divorce and remarried, to become a Catholic and receive communion in a Catholic church?
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It depends on whether or not the Church says the earlier marriage was valid or not. If two atheists got married on the beach and had a civil marriage license, divorced and one became Catholic, the Church would not recognize the first union as a valid marriage.

If two Lutherans who were single and free to marry got married in their church, were of sound mind, understood what they were doing, intended to bind themselves in a Christian marriage by vows, were not coerced or pressured or under duress, such a marriage would be considered valid.

There are many factors the Church uses in determining whether an attempt to marry created a valid marriage. If there was an attempt to marry in a convert’s past, the Church considers it and will either issue a decree of nullity, meaning no marriage took place, and the parties are free to marry as Catholics, or that the attempt was valid, in which case the parties may not remarry as Catholics.

No one on this forum can authoritatively tell you on a case by case basis whether a particular marriage was valid or not. You can learn about the standards or norms the Church considers when looking at the validity of marriages, but the decision can only be made by a marriage tribunal.
 
BobinKy said:
OK, please let me rephrase the question.

Is is possible for someone who has received a civil divorce and remarried, to become a Catholic and receive communion in a Catholic church?
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a person in this situation needs to sit down with their priest and discuss all the details.

The short answer is yes.

The long answer is that first their marriage problem must be dealt with. There are three possibilities:
  1. Their first marriage might be declared null through the Catholic marriage tribunal if, after investigation, the tribunal finds that there was an impediment to a valid marriage, or a defect of consent or intent by one or both parties. This means a valid marriage did not take place. Upon that finding, the current marriage can be convalidated (made valid) and the person may then enter the Church.
  2. The first marriage might be dissolved by the Pauline or Petrine Privilege if one or both parties were in the first marriage were unbaptized. These are limited circumstances and apply only to natural marriages (one or both parties unbaptized). The current marriage could then be made valid and the person could enter the Church.
  3. The first marriage is found valid and the second marriage CANNOT be made valid until the death of one of the original spouses. In such a case, the party wishing to enter the Church can commit to living in continence with the current spouse or can separate from that person and then enter the Church. This would be under the guidance of their priest.
A person in an invalid marriage cannot enter the Church until the marriage situation is solved one way or another.
 
grandfather said:
It depends on whether or not the Church says the earlier marriage was valid or not. If two atheists got married on the beach and had a civil marriage license, divorced and one became Catholic, the Church would not recognize the first union as a valid marriage.
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Assuming there are no impediments, non-Christians can validly marry. Two Jews, two Muslims, two Hindus, two atheists, two whatevers can create a valid natural marriage. Non-Catholics are not bound to Catholic marriage laws, so getting married by a judge on the beach would not necessarily mean the marriage was invalid.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
Assuming there are no impediments, non-Christians can validly marry. Two Jews, two Muslims, two Hindus, two atheists, two whatevers can create a valid natural marriage. Non-Catholics are not bound to Catholic marriage laws, so getting married by a judge on the beach would not necessarily mean the marriage was invalid.
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It is God who joins a man and a woman in marriage.
 
BobinKy said:
Is it possible for a person who has been divorced to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church?
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certainly as long as they are in the state of grace, and like everyone else, go to confession if they are conscious of mortal sin before receiving communion. A divorced person who remarries without an annulment and outside the laws of the church is sadly unable to receive communion or the other sacraments as long as that situation persists.
BobinKy said:
OK, please let me rephrase the question.

Is is possible for someone who has received a civil divorce and remarried, to become a Catholic and receive communion in a Catholic church?
Click to expand...
yes it is possible but only after they submit the first marriage for an annulment investigation, and if the first marriage is found to be invalid, convalidate the current marriage, so that they are now in conformity with Church laws on marriage.
 
grandfather said:
It depends on whether or not the Church says the earlier marriage was valid or not. If two atheists got married on the beach and had a civil marriage license, divorced and one became Catholic, the Church would not recognize the first union as a valid marriage.
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This is a common incorrect understanding of valid marriages.

The unbaptized and baptized non-Catholics marry validly when they marry civilly. The validity of marriages is not dependent upon where they took place or who witnessed them. Non-Catholic (non-Orthodox) Christians marry validly when they exchange consent before witnesses. If they exchange consent before a protestant minister he is only a civil witness.

The couple themselves manifest consent, therefore wherever and however they marry a true marriage comes into existence.

If they are unbaptized, it is a natural marriage.
If they are baptized it is a sacramental marriage.

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches through the authority of the bishops place requirements on who validly witnesses marriages and where they may take place. this applies ONLY to their members.
 
grandfather said:
It is God who joins a man and a woman in marriage.
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While God is the author if marriage as a whole, from the foundation of creation, it is the couple who manifest consent and make marriage in the individual case.

Can.* 1057 §1. The consent of the parties, legitimately manifested between persons qualified by law, makes marriage; no human power is able to supply this consent.

the Church teaches that marriage between the baptized is raised to a sacrament by its nature. So yes, God supplies the sacramental character of marriage among the baptized.

But, the unbaptized marry validly and have true marriages.
 
grandfather said:
It is the canon of the forum? Authoritative pronuncements abound. The RCIA director said.
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Sorry but you are not clear.

Are you saying that your RCIA director told you that it is okay for married people (that includes divorcees with no annulments) to be romantically involved (dates and whatever) with people other than those they are married to?
 
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