R
RRC
Guest
Can you tell me if a divorced RC woman maried to widower can recive Holy communion, and if not are there any special cicumstaces where it would be possible.
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C
cameron_lansing
Guest
I am a canon lawyer at the Diocese of Lansing.
If the Catholic woman
- was in a valid first marriage with her first husband still alive,
- and has not been declared free to marry by the Catholic Church
- through a decree of nullity (“annulment”)
- or the use of a privilege in favor of the faith (a special procedure that personally involves the pope and is fairly rare)
She would be said to be in an irregular marriage.
There really are no special circumstances in which Holy Communion could be received. Receiving Holy Communion presumes we are in full communion with the Church. That full communion is broken in some way when a divorced person marries without an annulment or other Church declaration of freedom.
I would encourage you, or the person you are mentioning, to speak with a parish priest or deacon and look into the possibility of a “marriage case.” If it turns out that the first marriage was invalid, then it may be possible to have the second marriage validated by the Church, and a return to Communion would be possible.
I will say a prayer for you, in case this is not a hypothetical but a personal situation.
If I can give any assistance or explain anything further, please private message or email me at jcameron@dioceseoflansing.org.
God bless you.
B
Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
Only if the divorced woman has received a decree of nullity for her Marriage or her first spouse has died or she and her current “husband” are no longer living as husband and wife but brother and sister and she has been to Confession.
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