Not married in the Church

[Kjnw4831]

I have recently decided that I want to start going to church again, but I am not married in the church so I know that I will not be able to receive any of the sacraments including the Eucharist and confession. So I know that I am living in a state of moral sin. What are the Church’s rules on this?

 

[Swisscath]

. You are correct that you cannot receive Holy Communion.
The best thing would be to make an apppintment to speak to the Parish Priest and he can guide you.

 

[1ke]

Please go talk to your pastor at your local Catholic Church. He will guide you through what needs to be done to return to the sacramental life. He is there to help you.

You may or may not get accurate information over the Internet. Your pastor has care overnight you, not people on CAF. So, please talk directly with your pastor.

 

[z_0101]

Please go talk to your pastor at your local Catholic Church. He will guide you through what needs to be done to return to the sacramental life. He is there to help you.

You may or may not get accurate information over the Internet. Your pastor has care overnight you, not people on CAF. So, please talk directly with your pastor.

 

[jmcrae]

Please go talk to your pastor at your local Catholic Church. He will guide you through what needs to be done to return to the sacramental life. He is there to help you.

You may or may not get accurate information over the Internet. Your pastor has care overnight you, not people on CAF. So, please talk directly with your pastor.

I also agree with this. Make an appointment as soon as you can.

 

[Vico]

I have recently decided that I want to start going to church again, but I am not married in the church so I know that I will not be able to receive any of the sacraments including the Eucharist and confession. So I know that I am living in a state of moral sin. What are the Church’s rules on this?

The priest will likely explain how you can receive the sacraments again, which is normally to convalidate the civil marriage, either simply or retroactively, for a case where you were Catholic at the time.

 

[Catholic1954]

Please make an appointment ASAP with a wise and holy priest. He will be in the best position to advise you and start any paperwork (if necessary) for the annulment process. Welcome (back) Home! We missed you.

 

[twf]

Please make an appointment ASAP with a wise and holy priest. He will be in the best position to advise you and start any paperwork (if necessary) for the annulment process. Welcome (back) Home! We missed you.

In a situation like this it would be prudent to make an appointment with the OP’s canonical (that is, geographical) parish pastor. He and he alone has the canonical obligation to care for her soul and pastoral authority over her soul. Shopping around for a “wise and holy priest” isn’t practical for someone just returning to the Church.

 

[jmcrae]

In a situation like this it would be prudent to make an appointment with the OP’s canonical (that is, geographical) parish pastor. He and he alone has the canonical obligation to care for her soul and pastoral authority over her soul. Shopping around for a “wise and holy priest” isn’t practical for someone just returning to the Church.

This is an excellent point. Very few of us are in any position to be connoisseurs of priests.

 

[twf]

This is an excellent point. Very few of us are in any position to be connoisseurs of priests.

When I was struggling with a couple moral questions last year I went to my geographical, canonical pastor, even though I didn’t know him well. The alternative was to seek out priests who I figured would be “soft” on these particular issues. I decided it was best to leave it with the pastor who actually has jurisdiction over me even though he was a bit of an unknown. As Fr. David has reiterated many times on these forums, registration means NOTHING as far as canon law and the Church is concerned. Your geographical pastor and ONLY your geographical pastor has canonical responsibility for your soul.