Do we have to have an annulment for a non-Catholic marriage?

[anici]

Greetings.

I have a problem and need help, please.

I was married in the Catholic church. I got my civil divorce. I married a foreign wife (who also got a civil divorce) and had to get a civil marriage because of visa reasons.

In the meantime, I got my Catholic Church Annulment.

My wife is a convert from Buddhism. When she married the first time, her ex was a Catholic while she was a Buddhist and they got married in a Catholic Church. She converted to Catholicism while married to her ex some months later.

Now, she applied for an annulment. We sent all the papers to her country’s Curia and after 9 months, we never even got a simple acknolwedgement from them. We sent several emails and so did the Curia from my country, but no reply.

I phoned them once overseas and the priest in charge coldly told me that we have to wait in line.

This is discouraging to say the least.

I do have one question though: My wife, being then a Buddhist, have not received the Sacrament of Matrimony because by then, she wasn’t even baptized and, to my knowledge, Baptism opens the doors to other Sacraments.

In such scenario, does my wife need a Church annulment or a civil divorce is enough?

I asked my Curia if the annulment can be processed here in Europe instead of in Asia. Answer they gave me is NO.

In the meantime, we want to have our marriege blessed by the Church but we are not getting any cooperation.

Morally, were do we stand? We have a civil marriage and we attend church regularly and pray and perform our Catholic duties. We want to have the Church blessing but we are not being cooperated with.

Thanks for any help offered.

 

[Reginald_Plum]

anici,

These links should explain where you and your wife stand. The first explains how your wife’s baptism affected the state of her previous marriage. The second explains how everything that looks like a marriage must be evaluated by a tribunal and it has a link to a foundation that can help you assert your rights within the church. The third explains what you and your wife can do to stay in a state of grace and receive the sacraments while waiting on the tribunal’s decision. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please contact Catholic Answers directly.

I do have one question though: My wife, being then a Buddhist, have not received the Sacrament of Matrimony because by then, she wasn’t even baptized and, to my knowledge, Baptism opens the doors to other Sacraments.

Recommended Reading:
What’s the difference between a valid and a sacramental marriage?

In such scenario, does my wife need a Church annulment or a civil divorce is enough?

Recommended Reading:
Do I need a formal annulment?

Morally, were do we stand? We have a civil marriage and we attend church regularly and pray and perform our Catholic duties. We want to have the Church blessing but we are not being cooperated with.

Recommended Reading:
I married a divorced man. What about Communion?