My parents' status in the church

  • Thread starter Thread starter slynnk
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

slynnk

Guest
Hi,
I am really happy to have found this website! Thank you all in advance for helping me. I was raised catholic. My parents were originally married…somewhere…that is what I am looking for! My dad was catholic from birth. My mother was not.

My mother was married very young and divorced around 1946. She married my dad right after that. Then in 1958 she joined the catholic church (but never went) and I think they were remarried at that time in the church. She was baptized but never went through with any other sacrements. They never went to communion…was that because the church would not allow them to receive? I wondered about that first.

Then, would the church need their original marriage date to marry them in the church?

My sister and I are on a search about our family history and this is very important info for us. Thanks again. Sharon
 
Your parents need to sit down with their priest and give him all the facts. There are many things you are guessing at and assuming.

The priest will need facts.
 
My father died and my mother will not talk to us about anything.
 
remarried at that time in the church.
Click to expand...
This is the key point. If you have the paperwork to verify this, then the reason for them abstaining from the sacraments would be something else, and probably personal. The Church would not have married them if they had any impediments at the time.

If you can’t find the paperwork at home, you can try the parish the ceremony took place. I would think it would be a matter of public record, I don’t know why it would be a secret.

Here is my unsolcitated advice. If they were rightfully married in the Catholic Church. but did not go to the sacraments, it might be for a reason your mother would rather not say, and I’d let it go at that.
 
unless you live in a country where your own legal status, inheritance etc. would be affected by this, and I can’t think of such a country where this would be true any more, this matter is none of your business. You must assume in charity that your parents acted in their best understanding of what was right and necessary, and that if they did later have their marriage blessed by the Church, all that was necessary was supplied. If your mother does not wish to discuss it the case is closed. Only an adult, or the parent of a minor, has the right to information about their sacramental records.
 
I am only trying to figure out the marriage laws of the church. I have read quite a lot about it recently but don’t totally understand it all. If a catholic person marries a non-catholic person who has been divorced can they receive communion? If they are both catholics but one has been divorced in the church can they marry and can they receive the sacrements?

Thanks.
 
slynnk said:
I am only trying to figure out the marriage laws of the church. I have read quite a lot about it recently but don’t totally understand it all. If a catholic person marries a non-catholic person who has been divorced can they receive communion? If they are both catholics but one has been divorced in the church can they marry and can they receive the sacrements?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I suggest you obtain the book Annulment: The Wedding That Was by Michael Smith Foster.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top