Marriage in Catholic Church

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obdarrell

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With regard to the the circumstances below, I would like to know what steps I would need to take, if any, to be married in the Catholic church:

I was baptized Catholic and was raised Catholic, however I married a woman outside the Catholic church. After 6 years of marriage we got a divorce. If I was to meet a Catholic woman in the future who wanted to get married in the Catholic church what would I have to do?

Thank you.
Darrell
 
Darrell,

Was the woman you married a non-Catholic?

As I understand it, the marriage between a baptized Catholic and a non-Catholic outside the Church is considered a “Failure of Form”, in canonical terminology.

The first step is for you to contact your local chancery office (archdiocese headquarters) and apply for an annulment. If the annulment is granted, dating would be permissable.

Hope that helps.
 
The woman I married was a non-Catholic.

I have spoken with my local diocese about the annulment process. It requires alot of information from witnesses that are either unavailable or do not exist. Also, the process requires information from my ex-spouse. I don’t know how willing she would be to provide information regarding this process.

Is the annulment process the only way (i.e. to marry in the Catholic church in the future)?

Thanks,
Darrell
 
Darrell,

Unless I’m mistaken, the only way you’d be able to get married in the Church in the future would be for the Church to annul your first marriage, the concept being that a second marriage on top of the first constitutes adultery.

Having said that, I’ve heard those attempting to get annulments express the same concerns you have, namely that the spouse would be unwilling to cooperate and that the process is complicated.

As it turns out, the spouses don’t object as often as would be supposed, and the process in a “Failure of Form” case is often less complicated than, say, in a case between two baptized Catholics married in the Church.

Have you spoken to your local pastor, or a priest at your parish you feel comfortable with? Maybe one of them can help out.
 
Darrell-

If you were married outside of the church the whole annulment process will be much simplier than you fear at the moment. 🙂 You make an appointment with you pastor and let him handle everything. Unless there are extenuating circumstances the whole process should be pretty straight forward.
 
I think you are borrowing worries before you know for sure if you need to worry. In general the process CAN involve witnesses and statements from the ex-spouse, but the church obviously can’t expect testimony from witnesses that don’t exist (as you say) and your spouse’s participation can’t be mandated by the church. She can totally refuse any part in the process, and you can still get an annulment. Start the process, and you will see the specifics for your case.
 
Did you “defect from the Catholic Church by a formal act” prior to your marriage?

Did you obtain permission from the bishop to marry outside the Catholic Church?

If not, your case should fall into the “lack of canonical form” category, which generally only requires some very simple paperwork - your marriage license, your final divorce decreee, and a current copy of your baptismal record.
 
you need to make an appointment with your pastor right away. If you have been baptized and made first communion, and have not remarried, it is probable he will tell you all you need to do is make a general confession and return Mass and communion. If you have not been confirmed, you can begin an adult confirmation class.

If you were not married in the Church you are probably not married at all; he can tell you after a simple interview. It is highly likely that you need some paperwork but not an annulment. But if you have not remarried, you have plenty of time to do this, it will not keep you from the sacraments. Everyone’s marriage situation is unique. It never fails that once you get into the first interview all the rest of the facts start coming out so it is oointless to speculate here and offer advice. Please see your pastor and get some peace of mind and advice right away.
 
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