Is my marriage valid?

[Cardinalsong]

This has been bothering me for over a year now.

I’ve been married to my husband for 15 years now, this is his 2nd & my 1st. He got divorced due to his ex-wife cheating on him. Neither of us are Catholic although I want to come home to the Catholic Church. He has no intention of ever coming home to the Catholic Church (although I pray for a change of heart every day).

Since I’m pretty sure he did not get an annullment since it is not required in non-Catholic churches, I’m afraid our marriage is not valid.

This is the only thing keeping me from coming home since I could not be received fully–I think. Since my husband has no intention of becoming Catholic, although I may be wrong, he may not get his 1st marriage annulled.

Any thoughts?

 

[Della]

You need to talk to a priest. Don’t worry about that–he’s heard it all and more! He will tell you what you need to do to be fully reinstated into the Church. All the best to you–I will pray for you.

 

[Kielbasi]

This depends on many factors.

Is the first wife alive or dead?
Was the husband Catholic at the time of the first marriage?
Were either party validly baptized, Catholic or non catholic?
Was the first wife Catholic at the time of the first marriage, and did she already get an annulment?
Were the husband and wife related closely enough not to be eligible for marriage in the Catholic church?

I’m sure there are other questions as well, the answer to your question is “not enough information”. Contact your parish priest, if he can’t answer your question , he can certain refer you to someone who can.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

This has been bothering me for over a year now.

I’ve been married to my husband for 15 years now, this is his 2nd & my 1st. He got divorced due to his ex-wife cheating on him. Neither of us are Catholic although I want to come home to the Catholic Church. He has no intention of ever coming home to the Catholic Church (although I pray for a change of heart every day).

Since I’m pretty sure he did not get an annullment since it is not required in non-Catholic churches, I’m afraid our marriage is not valid.

This is the only thing keeping me from coming home since I could not be received fully–I think. Since my husband has no intention of becoming Catholic, although I may be wrong, he may not get his 1st marriage annulled.

Any thoughts?

You are in a difficult position. The only way for you to know is for him to have his first Marriage investigated. It does not matter if if he was Catholic or not at the time because certain Marriage laws apply to everyone, baptized or not, Catholic or not but then Certain laws apply only to Catholics. Many of the details will need to be looked at.

 

[Cardinalsong]

This depends on many factors.

Is the first wife alive or dead?
She is still alive
Was the husband Catholic at the time of the first marriage?
**He was never Catholic. I myself was baptized Catholic but was not raised Catholic ** Were either party validly baptized, Catholic or non catholic?
My husband was baptized non-catholic. I don’t know about her.
Was the first wife Catholic at the time of the first marriage, and did she already get an annulment?
I don’t know if she was Catholic & I don’t think she got an annullment seeing she re-married 2 months after my husband & I got married
Were the husband and wife related closely enough not to be eligible for marriage in the Catholic church?
No

I don’t know if my answers clear up any confusion but I appreciate the responses from you all

 

[Seatuck]

So we are back at the same place we started. Please go see a Priest and get things started.

 

[Cardinalsong]

I’m afraid so. Just wanted to clarify myself that’s all. I will have to make an appointment with our priest.