Marriage/Anullment Advice

[pgordon2]

Hello-

I need some advice on a serious topic. I just became engaged 6 weeks ago. My fiance was married before, her ex-husband IS but they were married outside the church in a civil ceremony. We need to prove he is catholic in order for us to get married. He lives overseas and has not cooperated in producing his baptismal certificate. We expected this since he was very abusive both mentally and physically. He lives in Italy.
My priest, away on retreat now, directed me to the Tribunal, who directed me right back to my priest. Does anyone have advice as to what we can do?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hello-

I need some advice on a serious topic. I just became engaged 6 weeks ago. My fiance was married before, her ex-husband IS but they were married outside the church in a civil ceremony. We need to prove he is catholic in order for us to get married. He lives overseas and has not cooperated in producing his baptismal certificate. We expected this since he was very abusive both mentally and physically. He lives in Italy.
My priest, away on retreat now, directed me to the Tribunal, who directed me right back to my priest. Does anyone have advice as to what we can do?

Any parish he attended may have a record of his Sacraments in their files. Also the parish and/or diocese where he was Baptized. Try the parish in the town he was born in. Your pastor or the Tribunal can request this information if they will not send it to you directly if you supply them with the parish/diocese information.

 

[pgordon2]

My pastor has no prior experience doing something like this and my initial conversation with reception at the Tribunal harvested no results. In fact, reception referred me right back to my pastor for help. Frustrating to say the least. I will keep on trying…in the interim, is there any further advice anyone here can give me? Any feedback is much appreciated.
Thank You.

 

[CathyM]

If your fiancé is unable to obtain proof that her ex-husband was a baptized Catholic when they attempted marriage via civil ceremony, she will be unable to approach the Tribunal for a “documentary process” decree of nullity. (lack of form or “documentary process” is the simplest, quickest and least expensive annulment process)

Her alternative is to approach the Tribunal for a full investigation of her previous marriage. This process is more expensive and takes more time.

She (Petitioner) will be required to submit a “libellus” to the Tribunal. (pertinent documents – marriage certificate, divorce decree etc. plus a written marital history and a list of potential witnesses) After submitting the libellus, the Tribunal will establish grounds and attempt to contact her ex. Although it is preferable that he (Respondent) cooperate in the case, this process can go forward with or without his participation/cooperation.

Testimony is then received (focused on the grounds) via written questionnaires or interviews. The Petitioner and at least two of her witnesses must provide testimony for her case to go forward. Sometimes expert testimony is needed as well. After all testimony is received in the case – 1) the case is briefed by an Advocate 2) reviewed by the Defender of the Bond and if there are no objections 3) the case is submitted to the Judge for sentence.

Hope this helps.

 

[1ke]

Does anyone have advice as to what we can do?

Try to find the parish in which he was baptized. Do you know his home town? You can start calling parishes in that town. Are there any relatives that are friendly towards your fiance who might dig up the info you are looking for by asking around or older relatives who might have been at the baptism who could do an affidavit and possibly tell you what church? Do you know where he was born, what parish he went to as a child, so that you could call that church for the records?

Do you have any papers from when they were married that would have his SSN, birth certificate, or other vital documents? If you cannot find his baptismal records on your own, consider hiring a private investigator to track down his baptismal records for you.