Marriage status?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Marquay
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Marquay

Guest
Up front let me apologize for a confusing situation: Decades before I converted I was married by a justice of the peace. I divorced and then remarried also via justice of the peace. This marriage resulted in several children but I separated years before I started RCIA. During RCIA my first marriage was successfully annulled. I entered the church because I was not ‘remarried’ after a divorce since my first marriage was annulled. I was told that my second marriage had defect form because my first marriage was not annulled at the time of my second marriage. I am currently in the process of divorce after years of separation. I intend to annull for defect form as soon as the divorce becomes official.So my question is: am I considered married under these circumstances? In reconciliation I have to give my status.
I have never been married in the church, nor convalidated, However my first marriage was annulled, both marriages occurred prior to my conversion.
Can someone shed light on this for me?emphasized text
 
Last edited:
Unless you are declared free to marry, your status is married. Though if you’re just asking for the purpose of telling a priest in confession, it’s probably easier to simply say you’re divorced.

Beyond that, you need to speak with a priest about pursuing a declaration of nullity for your second marriage.
 
So, dumb question as I’m reading this post. I’ve sort of been lurking on this forum as I try to determine if returning to Catholicism is what I’m supposed to do. I was baptized, confirmed, and raised catholic. However, I was married by a justice of the peace. In the eyes of the Church, am I not married?
 
powerandglory said:
So, dumb question as I’m reading this post. I’ve sort of been lurking on this forum as I try to determine if returning to Catholicism is what I’m supposed to do. I was baptized, confirmed, and raised catholic. However, I was married by a justice of the peace. In the eyes of the Church, am I not married?
Click to expand...
Catholics need to be married according to Catholic form. That means having your marriage witnessed by a priest or deacon unless you’ve obtained a dispensation. To bring your marriage into the Church, you would need to do what’s called a convalidation. You and your spouse will exchange vows again, this time with a priest or deacon. Talk with your pastor to get things started.
 
Marquay said:
I was told that my second marriage had defect form because my first marriage was not annulled at the time of my second marriage.
Click to expand...
This isn’t correct, provided none of the parties were Catholic as you indicate.

The person who told you this is simply misinformed/ignorant of the nuances of Church law on marriage.
Marquay said:
am I considered married under these circumstances?
Click to expand...
Yes. You are not free to marry until your current marriage is investigated.
Marquay said:
I have never been married in the church, nor convalidated
Click to expand...
Form does not apply to non Catholics.
Marquay said:
Can someone shed light on this for me?
Click to expand...
You need to sit down with your pastor and discuss the situation. You are likely to get a lot of answers on here that are not accurate.
 
powerandglory said:
I was baptized, confirmed, and raised catholic. However, I was married by a justice of the peace. In the eyes of the Church, am I not married?
Click to expand...
Correct. Catholics are bound by form unless dispensed. So your marriage would need to be convalidated by simple convalidation (new exchange of consent) or radical sanation (an act of the bishop that validates your marriage back to the original exchange of consent).
SanRafael1102 said:
Married then
Click to expand...
This is not correct.

The Poster “powerandglory” is a Catholic and therefore bound by form. It is not relevant whether she married a baptized or unbaptized person. It matters that she did not marry in Catholic form or receive a dispensation from form.
 
Last edited:
Another option would be a radical sanation. This translates as “healing at the roots”. Powerandglory could go and speak to her priest and the marriage could be retroactively validated through paperwork. While a convalidation is preferred by the Church, sometimes a couple may prefer a radical sanation, especially if the other partner believes that the original consent was sufficient. Powerandglory’s pastor would be able to advise her on her options.
 
To the OP and others asking about marital status, only a priest can correctly assess your situation. Talk to a priest. I was given wrong and damaging information by church secretaries, rcia directors and deacons. A priest finally cleared everything thing up.
 
To which you could add, someone who has a degree in Canon law, or someone who is trained in the particular areas of Canon law regarding marriage.

1ke knows more about decrees of nullity that a couple of priests I have met over the years.
 
I have a question as well. I’ve been married 25 years. We were married in the Catholic Church, went through all the steps to have previous marriages/divorces recognized and annulled (I guess) so that we could marry in the Church. Yesterday I found out, by accident, that my husband did not disclose his first marriage and child because it was his past. He said They divorced then he said it was annulled then he said he didn’t want to talk about it. Yep, I’m pretty bent out of shape. But, is my marriage valid in the Catholic Church since he didn’t disclose any of this. Not to mention, the many other lies of omission throughout the past two decades.
 
That is something that you will need to sit down with a knowledgeable priest or member of your diocesan marriage tribunal to discuss. An undisclosed prior bond is indeed problematic. It’s impact on your current marriage’s validity depends on a number of factors.

And, wow, he has a child he never told you about?
 
The age we live in.
Marriages and divorces (anullments).
Makes it tough for the church to keep things straightened out.
Sorry for your troubles.
 
When you say he didn’t disclose it, do you mean to you? Or also somehow to the priest who witnessed your marriage?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top