In the process of converting to Catholicism. My husband and I were married non catholic

[Sdufort221]

Hello everyone, I guess my question is if my husband and I were married both non Catholics is our marriage still valid now that I’m converting? Do I need to have the marriage validated ? Also we have three kids together that I want to baptize they are all under 5 years old. Should I wait until I am baptized to baptize them and teach them the Catholic faith. My husband is agnostic so he won’t be involved teaching them anything with regards to Catholicism.

 

[Spyridon]

Nobody here can answer these questions for you, beyond conjecture and giving educated guesses.

You need to contact the Priest of your local Church and speak to him. Call the parish office.

But welcome home to the Church and welcome to the CA Forums.

Very specific questions like this about your personal situation are not going to be answered accurately here - this forum is more for general theological discussions than it is for answering questions about your personal situation in the Church.

 

[USAFwife]

@sdufort221 regarding baptizing your kids, I am in the process of converting and I was able to have my 4-year old baptized immediately even though I am not Catholic yet. I just had to have godparents for her.

 

[pianistclare]

Children under the age of 7 don’t have to be enrolled in classes. After age 7, they would be enrolled in Children’s OCIC (the name of these classes is debatable) but it’s basically a conversion class for children.
Welcome home, I hope everything works out well for you. The local priest is the one who can really help you.
God bless.

 

[nodito]

Non Catholics can marry validly (even sacramentally if both parties are baptized). If neither of you were baptized Catholic (in which case you would have been required to have been married in the Church) then your marriage is presumed valid if you exchanged consent and had no impediments (the most common impediments nowadays involve prior marriages). Welcome Home!

 

[Gorgias]

Hello everyone, I guess my question is if my husband and I were married both non Catholics is our marriage still valid now that I’m converting? Do I need to have the marriage validated ? Also we have three kids together that I want to baptize they are all under 5 years old. Should I wait until I am baptized to baptize them and teach them the Catholic faith. My husband is agnostic so he won’t be involved teaching them anything with regards to Catholicism.

Lots of questions here. Welcome to CAF!

OK: the question of validity of marriage is a somewhat complicated one, so it’s best for you to go to your pastor and have a conversation.

The answer is going to depend on whether there were any previous marriages (such that you two might not have both been free to marry). It will also depend on your baptismal status – rather than “we were non-Catholics”, the issue is whether one or both of you were validly baptized as Christians, and in what faith community. There are other considerations, too, so that’s why I’m saying “go talk to your pastor!”

Once you’ve entered into the Church, it will make sense to discuss the question of the baptism of your children. Let them know that you’re doing something that makes sense to you, and helps you understand God. Talk to your husband – is he OK with them being baptized? Is he OK with raising them in the Catholic faith (which includes ensuring that they go to Mass and learn the faith and receive the sacraments)?

Talk with your pastor. He’ll help you out…

 

[Sdufort221]

So my husband and I were never married to anyone else this is out first marriage. Second he was baptized as a child at a united church and I was not baptized at all ever. I spoke with the priest and he said I can have my children baptized as long as I have two god parents that are both practicing Catholics.

 

[OraLabora]

Your marriage is then a valid natural marriage. The United Church baptism is recognized by the Catholic Church, so as soon as you’re baptized, your union will then become a valid sacramental marriage. AFAIK there won’t be any need to convalidate as neither of you were Catholic when you married.

 

[1ke]

Hello everyone, I guess my question is if my husband and I were married both non Catholics is our marriage still valid now that I’m converting?

Precluding any impediments, such as prior marriage(s), yes your marriage would be valid.

Do I need to have the marriage validated ?

No, non-Catholics marry validly when they marry civilly.

Also we have three kids together that I want to baptize they are all under 5 years old. Should I wait until I am baptized to baptize them and teach them the Catholic faith. My husband is agnostic so he won’t be involved teaching them anything with regards to Catholicism.

Talk to your pastor about the timing of baptism for your children. He will be in the best position to answer this question.

Welcome to the forums and welcome to the faith!

 

[1ke]

Actually, for baptism of a child only one parent’s consent is required.

Obviously not the case here as the OP’s spouse seems on board with baptizing the children.