Divorce/Annullment/Re-marry questions - please help!

[kandj2011]

Hi there -

I am so confused and hope to find a little clarity to some questions. First a little back story to help give some insight to any answers:

I am not currently Catholic, but am participating in RCIA to convert. I was previously married to a man who virtually does not believe in God. We were married in Las Vegas by a chaplain of some sort and legally divorced last year. We have one child together. I was this mans second marriage. His first marriage was to a non-catholic and was done at a justice of the peace, they divorced within a year.

I was blessed to reconnect with an old friend who I believe to be my soulmate in every sense of the word. He is, in a word, amazing. He asked me to marry him and of course I said yes. He is Catholic. He was married to a non-catholic before - also in Las Vegas by a chaplain of some sort, and legally divorced last year. They have two children together. The only difference is that they did have their marriage “blessed” by the church a few years after they were married.

My questions are these:

1. It is my understanding that although he married outside the church to a non-catholic, since he had the union “blessed” by the church he will need to apply for an annulment if we wish to be married in the church. Is this correct?
2. As a non-catholic myself currently, having married a non-catholic outside of any church, do I also need to apply for an annulment to be able to marry in the church? I think I do, unless the fact that I was his second marriage has any bearing of making our marriage null anyways. Any insights?
3. If we decide to marry outside of the church (which we are not inclined to do), will we be able to participate in communion? I’m unclear on the fact of if we have a marriage that is not recognized by the church - does that negate us from participating in the other sacraments?

Thanks in advance to anyone that takes a shot at this. I appreciate any insight that can be offered.

Thanks again!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I am thrilled that you are in the process of converting! Please talk directly to your priest as soon as possible, because you will have paperwork to do in order to clear things up before you can go forward.

 

[dixieagle]

My questions are these:

1. It is my understanding that although he married outside the church to a non-catholic, since he had the union “blessed” by the church he will need to apply for an annulment if we wish to be married in the church. Is this correct?

If his previous marriage was convalidated in the Church, then, yes, a decree of nullity would be required.

1. As a non-catholic myself currently, having married a non-catholic outside of any church, do I also need to apply for an annulment to be able to marry in the church? I think I do, unless the fact that I was his second marriage has any bearing of making our marriage null anyways. Any insights?

As your first marriage was to a man who had been previously married, and who, in the eyes of the Church, was not free to marry you, then there would likely be paperwork, but probably not a very lengthy process. A priest can get you started.

1. If we decide to marry outside of the church (which we are not inclined to do), will we be able to participate in communion? I’m unclear on the fact of if we have a marriage that is not recognized by the church - does that negate us from participating in the other sacraments?

Until and unless you are declared free to marry, you would not be able to receive the Eucharist or other sacraments, unless you are living as brother and sister.

I’ll keep you both in my prayers, and hope that my answers are helpful.

 

[joanofarc2008]

You need to speak to your priest. This may be a time of discernment for you both. Please stay on the path to conversion and the Lord will guide you.

 

[Catholic1954]

Hi there -

I am so confused and hope to find a little clarity to some questions. First a little back story to help give some insight to any answers:

I am not currently Catholic, but am participating in RCIA to convert. I was previously married to a man who virtually does not believe in God. We were married in Las Vegas by a chaplain of some sort and legally divorced last year. We have one child together. I was this mans second marriage. His first marriage was to a non-catholic and was done at a justice of the peace, they divorced within a year.

I was blessed to reconnect with an old friend who I believe to be my soulmate in every sense of the word. He is, in a word, amazing. He asked me to marry him and of course I said yes. He is Catholic. He was married to a non-catholic before - also in Las Vegas by a chaplain of some sort, and legally divorced last year. They have two children together. The only difference is that they did have their marriage “blessed” by the church a few years after they were married.

My questions are these:

1. It is my understanding that although he married outside the church to a non-catholic, since he had the union “blessed” by the church he will need to apply for an annulment if we wish to be married in the church. Is this correct?
2. As a non-catholic myself currently, having married a non-catholic outside of any church, do I also need to apply for an annulment to be able to marry in the church? I think I do, unless the fact that I was his second marriage has any bearing of making our marriage null anyways. Any insights?
3. If we decide to marry outside of the church (which we are not inclined to do), will we be able to participate in communion? I’m unclear on the fact of if we have a marriage that is not recognized by the church - does that negate us from participating in the other sacraments?

Thanks in advance to anyone that takes a shot at this. I appreciate any insight that can be offered.

Thanks again!

You two need to speak to a priest ASAP if you plan to marry. He will be in the best position to advise and walk you through the process.

 

[1ke]

I was blessed to reconnect with an old friend who I believe to be my soulmate in every sense of the word. He is, in a word, amazing. He asked me to marry him and of course I said yes.

Slow down there, Tex. You need to pull back on he reigns. He is not currenlty free to marry. He is therefore not free to ask you to marry him.

1. It is my understanding that although he married outside the church to a non-catholic, since he had the union “blessed” by the church he will need to apply for an annulment if we wish to be married in the church. Is this correct?

yes, he will need to apply for and receive a decree of nullity in order to be free to marry at all. Do not entertain the idea of marrying civilly if his marriage is found to be valid. That is adultery. If by “blessed” you mean convalidated, he is validly married unless he proves there are grounds for nullity.

1. As a non-catholic myself currently, having married a non-catholic outside of any church, do I also need to apply for an annulment to be able to marry in the church? I think I do, unless the fact that I was his second marriage has any bearing of making our marriage null anyways. Any insights?

Yes, you do. And yes, his prior marriage does impact things. This would likely be a Ligamen case.

See this chart:
diocs.org/Portals/1/Documents/Tribunal/Decision_matrix.pdf

1. If we decide to marry outside of the church (which we are not inclined to do), will we be able to participate in communion?

No. You will be committing the sin of adultery. Please do not go there.

I’m unclear on the fact of if we have a marriage that is not recognized by the church - does that negate us from participating in the other sacraments?

Yes, and above all it puts your soul in jeopardy.

 

[johndoe100]

There are certain requirements inorder to be a Roman Catholic. Playing the “annulment card” is really over the top, in my opinion. Canon 1055 clearly states that all marriages are a valid sacrament, thus permanent,