Divorce, annulment, and communion

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I am in the process of divorce. Can I start the Catholic process of annulment as this time as well? Do I need to wait for the divorce to be finalized?

Also, I believe I can still receive Communion during this divorce process (when I need it desperately!). However, after mass one day, a friend approached me to say she thought I ought not receive the body of Christ during this time. Who is correct?
 
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volleyballmom:
I am in the process of divorce. Can I start the Catholic process of annulment as this time as well? Do I need to wait for the divorce to be finalized?

Also, I believe I can still receive Communion during this divorce process (when I need it desperately!). However, after mass one day, a friend approached me to say she thought I ought not receive the body of Christ during this time. Who is correct?
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Well logically speaking it seems that your divorce would have to be final before you sought an annulment, just in case there would be a reconciliation…but the Church doesn’t recognize civil divorce (in the religious sense) so you might well be able to go ahead and start annulment proceedings…ask your priest!

Unless you are in a state of mortal sin you are able to receive communion, when going thru a divorce or even after your divorce is final. Only you know if you are in a state of mortal sin or not.

Hope this helps some!

SV
 
I’ve been through the anullment process and agree with St. Veronica 100%.

St. Veronica quoted:

Unless you are in a state of mortal sin you are able to receive communion, when going thru a divorce or even after your divorce is final. Only you know if you are in a state of mortal sin or not.

Puppy:blessyou:
 
There is a pervasive confusion about whether or not divorced people may receive Holy Communion. Here are the facts: People who are *divorced and remarried * without benefit of an annullment are living in sin and therefore not eligible to receive. People who are divorced and not remarried are subject to the same rules as everyone else: as stated in the earlier replies - if you’re not in a state of mortal sin, go ahead and receive. Divorce *in itself * is not enough to exclude you. I would advise the frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance, especially during this difficult time. It is a great source of peace.

Betsy
 
No U.S. diocese will accept an annulment application until the divorce has been finalized. In fact, the final divorce decree is one of the things that must be submitted as a part of the paperwork.
 
Every situation is different, but just because you get divorced by the state doesn’t mean you will get an annulment. If you had a valid marriage to start with, you will always be married and there is nothing you or God or the Chruch could do to change that. You can always have communion unless you have a mortal sin on your soul. So if you were validly married and then remarried again, or was with another person then that would be mortal sin. It could possibly even be a mortal sin if you got divorced and you had a valid marriage. Seek counceling from a priest and go to confession.
 
Seven Sorrows:
It could possibly even be a mortal sin if you got divorced and you had a valid marriage. Seek counceling from a priest and go to confession.
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Ok I have to disagree with one thing here. As long as a person did not remarry it is NOT a mortal sin to divorce even if you have a valid marriage.

There are times where there are no other options except to divorce, even if the marriage was valid such as in the case of a abusive spouse etc.

SV
 
Every situation is different, but just because you get divorced by the state doesn’t mean you will get an annulment. If you had a valid marriage to start with, you will always be married and there is nothing you or God or the Chruch could do to change that. You can always have communion unless you have a mortal sin on your soul. So if you were validly married and then remarried again, or was with another person then that would be mortal sin. It could possibly even be a mortal sin if you got divorced and you had a valid marriage. Seek counceling from a priest and go to confession.
 
I surely talked with my priest, who gave the same opinion as St Veronica’s last post.

Thanks to all for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
The divorce needs to be final. You should still be able to talk to an advocate about beginning the paperwork.
 
Seven Sorrows:
Every situation is different, but just because you get divorced by the state doesn’t mean you will get an annulment. If you had a valid marriage to start with, you will always be married and there is nothing you or God or the Chruch could do to change that. You can always have communion unless you have a mortal sin on your soul. So if you were validly married and then remarried again, or was with another person then that would be mortal sin. It could possibly even be a mortal sin if you got divorced and you had a valid marriage. Seek counceling from a priest and go to confession.
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Seven Sorrors: I agree with you. I have been married for over 26 years but separated the last 7. I´m still married because I strongly believe, ´´what God joins let no man separate.´´ I haven´t even bothered with a civil divorce because it doesn´t mean much to me having that…I know I can not re-marry. I live a content life with God; He has strengthened me tremendously. I know that God will never let go, and I will live as he wishes for me to live…I trust fully in Him.
 
I don’t know exactly what your situation is, but here are some thoughts.

You mentioned that you talked to your priest, have you tried talking with more than one priest? Tried other resources as marriage encounter or Retrouvaille? In other words, have you done every humanly possible thing to work things out in your relationship with your spouse and have found and arrived at the sad conclusion that divorce is the only option?

I don’t know if you or your spouse started the process, but make sure that you go to the sacrament of reconciliation often during this process, and ask for God’s guidance.

Soemone said that only you know if you are in a state of mortal sin or not. I disagree with the degree of knowledge. Mortal sin involves doing something on purpose even if we know it is wrong. So that is why it is recommended that reconciliation is done frequently, once a week is what I recommend.

Also, realize that we are called to live chastely at all stages of our lives.

May God guide you to the correct decisions and to obedience to His will.

BGlez
 
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