Divorced former Catholic, seeking guidance

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blessingsabound

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I’m not sure this is the right forum section for my question, but I hope someone will direct me to the appropriate one if not.
Situation: I was married in the Church, and we divorced but did not annul. My priest said as long as I wasn’t remarried, I could still be in full communion with the Church.

I remained this way for more than 20 years before remarrying (outside the Church, because I did not annul my former marriage) and began attending another Christian church that does not require the annulment. This marriage also ended in a divorce. So now I am twice divorced, with zero annulments and no way to get them. Is it possible for me to come back to the Church as a Catholic in good standing and in full communion? Thanks.
 
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Yes it is possible. Speak to the priest at the parish church near you
 
I believe it is possible; you will need to make an appointment with the pastor at the local parish to go to talk about your situation and go to confession
 
You’ve been divorced civilly twice, with your first marriage presumed valid.

You really do need to go and make an appointment to speak with your local Catholic Parish priest to get his advice and set the ball in motion wrt a possible annulment and beginning proceedings - and your return to God and His Church.
 
blessingsabound said:
So now I am twice divorced, with zero annulments and no way to get them.
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You can always petition the Church for a decree of nullity regarding your first marriage. It’s not necessary in order to return or if you plan to remain single, but would be necessary before pursuing additional relationships.

Your second marriage has no presumption of validity and isn’t an issue.
blessingsabound said:
it possible for me to come back to the Church as a Catholic in good standing and in full communion?
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Yes. Go to confession and resume the sacramental life. That’s all you need to do. Speak to the pastor at your local parish.

It’s Lent starting Wednesday, what a great time of conversion and repentance!
 
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With great joy, YES! We welcome you with open arms, what a great happiness that you seek reunion.

Read what the diary of Saint Faustina, which contains Jesus’ desires, has to say;

-My daughter, write that the greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy; [urge] all souls to trust in the unfathomable abyss of My mercy, because I want to save them all. Diary 1182

-The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy. My mercy is confirmed in every work of My hands. He who trusts in My mercy will not perish, for all his affairs are Mine, and his enemies will be shattered at the base of My footstool. Diary 723
 
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  1. see a priest–you will get a far better answer than here.
  2. given that you are Catholic (the church recognizes no “was” in this regard), even if you did have an annulment from the first, the marriage outside the church would not be recognized (and thus noise of divorce).
So given the information you provided, the church view would be that you are married the initial husband, civilly divorced, and had a period “shacked up” with the other man.

A “mere” matter for confession.

The reasons for the first divorce, and the fact of the second marriage, wouldn’t come into play in an annulment; it would depend upon the situation at the time of the first marriage.

hawk
 
Thank you all. I was fortunate to hear from a priest, who gave me guidance on the matter.
 
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