Does my husband need two annulments?

[karanne911]

My husband and I are civilly married, I am Catholic, he is not. He was married in a Catholic church 35 yrs. ago,(she was Catholic) it was never annulled. We have tried to no avail to find the ex. Is it possible to have the marriage annulled? He then married in the Lutheran church, she was not Catholic. Are grounds the same for non Catholic annulments? I really want our marriage blessed as we have been married for 12 years now, please help me.

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Yes, he needs two annulments.

An annulment does not dissolve a valid marriage, it is a recognition that no valid marriage ever existed. Therefore, if his first marriage is declared null that would mean he was objectively free to marry at the Lutheran wedding and that would become the presumed valid marriage unless proven otherwise.