May a divorced Baptist marry a widowed Catholic without an annulment?

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My question is: If a woman who is a widow marries a man whose wife left him, divorced him and he did not get that marriage annulled, what is the Catholic Church’s stand on that issue? Must he get his marriage annulled to marry the widow? He is not Catholic. He is Baptist. However, she is a Catholic.
 
Hi,

It is necessary to remember that one cannot marry another who is already married. This is what a person does when he attempts to marry another person who is divorced. Jesus was quite explicit about this: “What God has joined together, no man may put asunder.” The state does not have the power to dissolve a valid marriage. A Church annulment does not dissolve a valid marriage. After a thorough investigation if it is discovered that an essential element was absent at the marriage, such as the emotional maturity of one or both parties, the marriage is judged null. THEN, the person is free to contract a marriage because he was not validly married in the first place.

So yes, the Baptist man must have his marriage annulled if it is possible. Otherwise, his marriage will be invalid and the Catholic woman would not be allowed to marry him in the Catholic Church.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
 
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