Mixed faith marriage

[francismary]

Hello all!
I was baptised Catholic, but never completed sacraments. Went through RCIA 4 years ago, but found out days before Easter mass I could not be received “officially” into the church because my husband (now ex) had been previously married in the Episcopal church–he refused to seek an annulment to the previous marriage. He and I were married by a JP.

I am now engaged to a wonderful Lutheran gentleman, who would not mind marrying me in a Catholic church. Would we be allowed to be married in the Catholic church? Would I be considered “really” a Catholic–since I’ve never been “formally” accepted into the Church? If we married in fiancee’s Lutheran church, would I still need to apply for permission/canonical dispensation for marrying outside the Catholic church?

Any answers/advice would be greatly welcome…

Francismary

 

[1ke]

I am now engaged to a wonderful Lutheran gentleman, who would not mind marrying me in a Catholic church.

Have you discussed how children will be raised? Mixed marriages can be very difficult. And, a Catholic is obligated to raise their children in the Catholic Church.

Would we be allowed to be married in the Catholic church?

Yes.

There are steps you need to take, but of course you can be married in the Catholic Church. By canon law, it is a requirement actually, unless you receive a dispensation to marry in his church.

Would I be considered “really” a Catholic–since I’ve never been “formally” accepted into the Church?

You are really Catholic by virtue of your baptism. I’m not sure why you have the idea you are not Catholic. You have not completed the sacraments of initiation (confirmation) if I understand your post correctly. A Catholic is to be confirmed prior to marriage unless this is a grave inconvenience (I suppose the priest determines what constitutes “grave inconvenience”).

Speak to your priest about completing your sacraments and about preparing for marriage.

If we married in fiancee’s Lutheran church, would I still need to apply for permission/canonical dispensation for marrying outside the Catholic church?

Yes. And for permission for a mixed marriage. And you would need to complete Catholic marriage preparation. The general requirement to be confirmed also applies.

I really encourage you to talk to your priest. Your impediment to completing your sacraments is no longer there.

 

[PerfectTiming]

You are baptised as a Catholic - that makes you a full member of the Church forever. You were accepted into the Church at your baptism. You are already “really” a Catholic.

I believe you need to seek an annulment for your first marriage. Marriages are assumed valid until shown otherwise - with your ex-husband’s first marriage that should be no problem to get. Speak to your priest, he will be able to help you.

You can get married in the Church once you take confirmation. Again, speak to your priest.

 

[1ke]

I believe you need to seek an annulment for your first marriage. Marriages are assumed valid until shown otherwise - with your ex-husband’s first marriage that should be no problem to get. Speak to your priest, he will be able to help you.

A marriage that lacks form is not presumed valid. It is invalid on its face. In the US, there is a paperwork process, in other countries there is no paperwork process. But the marriage is not investigated by the tribunal.

 

[charliedrake]

You may attend RC mass but not particpate in many sacraments such as confession and communion. You will have loads of red tape to be fully accepted back with the RC faith. If your spouse will attend retreats, annullments, lack of form, etc you may find this rather rewarding. So consider all options.

God Bless.

 

[1ke]

You may attend RC mass but not particpate in many sacraments such as confession and communion.

Please do not disseminate false information. The OP is not currently married and has no impediment to receiving the sacraments.

You will have loads of red tape to be fully accepted back with the RC faith.

This is also false.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I was baptised Catholic, but never completed sacraments. Went through RCIA 4 years ago, but found out days before Easter mass I could not be received “officially” into the church

After baptism did you leave the Church is a formal way, e.g. did you become a member of another religion or did you just not practise the Catholic Faith?

because my husband (now ex) had been previously married in the Episcopal church–he refused to seek an annulment to the previous marriage. He and I were married by a JP.

I am now engaged to a wonderful Lutheran gentleman, who would not mind marrying me in a Catholic church. Would we be allowed to be married in the Catholic church?

Yes, but you need to see a priest. You need to discuss your marital situation with him. Your previous marriage will need to be judged by a tribunal. Before you can marry your fiancé you will need to be granted an annulment of your prior marriage. As your previous husband was not free to marry you I think it’s likely you will get an annulment. Please remember that there are no guarantees that you will receive an annulment. If you are granted an annulment and are free to marry and have no impediments then you should be able to marry in the Catholic Church.

Go and see a priest to sort all of this out.

Would I be considered “really” a Catholic–since I’ve never been “formally” accepted into the Church?

If you were validly baptised in the Catholic Church you are a Catholic. If you have completed RCIA you have been catechised. You now need to deal with the issue of your marriage. Go and see a priest. When this is resolved you can complete the sacraments of initiation.

If we married in fiancee’s Lutheran church, would I still need to apply for permission/canonical dispensation for marrying outside the Catholic church?

You would need a dispensation from canonical form. If you did not receive this your marriage would be invalid. I see no point in you further complicating your relationship with the Catholic Church. As I keep saying: go and see a priest. Regularise your marital situation. Complete the sacraments of initiation. Marry in the Church.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

You may attend RC mass but not particpate in many sacraments such as confession and communion.

We should use a capital ‘M’ for Mass. Why can’t she go to confession or receive Communion?

You will have loads of red tape to be fully accepted back with the RC faith.

The OP is a Catholic; thus, she doesn’t need “to be fully accepted back with the RC faith”.

If your spouse will attend retreats, annullments, lack of form, etc …

Can you please explain what this means?

 

[1ke]

Yes, but you need to see a priest. You need to discuss your marital situation with him. Your previous marriage will need to be judged by a tribunal. Before you can marry your fiancé you will need to be granted an annulment of your prior marriage. As your previous husband was not free to marry you I think it’s likely you will get an annulment. Please remember that there are no guarantees that you will receive an annulment. If you are granted an annulment and are free to marry and have no impediments then you should be able to marry in the Catholic Church.

A Catholic married outside the Church is a lack of form case, not a formal case. It is administrative paperwork only. Yes, she does need to see her priest, but it is not a tribunal nullity case.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

A Catholic married outside the Church is a lack of form case, not a formal case.

Yes, I know that it’s a lack of consent rather than a defect of consent. I wasn’t making a judgement based on what the OP says. She does say she was married by a JP. She gives no more information. This is why she needs to she a priest. There’s lots of questions that need asking based on her scant information. I’m not saying that we on CAF should probe further but a priest needs to. She doesn’t say she was granted dispensation from canonical form but she doesn’t say she wasn’t granted it. This needs to be checked.

It is administrative paperwork only. Yes, she does need to see her priest, but it is not a tribunal nullity case.

This varies from place to place. Even though it’s an administrative matter as opposed to a judicial one it’s up to the bishop who deals with it. He may deal with it directly, delegate it to the chancery, and in some places he delegates it to parish priests (aka pastors in some countries). In some places it may be the tribunal that carries out the procedure.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

This is why needs to she a priest.

The above should, obviously, say: “This is why she needs to see a priest”.

 

[thistle]

You may attend RC mass but not particpate in many sacraments such as confession and communion. You will have loads of red tape to be fully accepted back with the RC faith. If your spouse will attend retreats, annullments, lack of form, etc you may find this rather rewarding. So consider all options.

God Bless.

You are just spreading confusion and errors.

 

[Phemie]

Yes, I know that it’s a lack of consent rather than a defect of consent. I wasn’t making a judgement based on what the OP says. She does say she was married by a JP. She gives no more information. This is why she needs to she a priest. There’s lots of questions that need asking based on her scant information. I’m not saying that we on CAF should probe further but a priest needs to. She doesn’t say she was granted dispensation from canonical form but she doesn’t say she wasn’t granted it. This needs to be checked.

She was obviously not granted a dispensation from form since the JP marriage was to a divorced man who refused to petition for a decree of nullity. On top of the lack of canonical form there was an diriment impediment to a valid marriage.