May I as a Catholic, help my mother with her divorce?

[ctavel]

Yesterday my Catholic mom informed me that she will be asking for a divorce from my non-Catholic father. The marriage is 37 years old. FYI: I am a 37 year old Catholic-in-good-standing and my brother is 34. The first thing I told her was that it is imperative that she talk to one of our priests (which she has decided to do). I then started to advise her on seeking legal council. Is this wrong for me to do? At the time I didn’t think of it, but now I feel as though I am enabling the situation by offering my advice on how to go through the civil divorce by offering advice on lawyers. As a Catholic what can I do…What should I do?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

The Church does allow divorce for the equitable division of goods that the couple has held in common. But of course, the state does not have the power to dissolve a valid marriage—nor does the Church, actually. After the divorce your mother will remain a married woman and is required to live as one in that she may not date or behave as if she were not married.

So long as getting the divorce is your mother’s own free decision, there is nothing wrong with helping your mother through this difficult transition in her life.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.