Obligation to obtain an annulment?

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T_Melnick

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Hello,
I am a Catholic woman married outside of the Church to a divorced protestant. We have one daughter. I separated from my husband last year because he was unwilling to complete the annulment process for his first marriage.

His first marriage would be declared invalid because of a lack of form. He was baptized and raised Orthodox, but did not receive the priestly blessing. Rather, he married in front of his protestant minister. (This seems to be more of a loophole than a legitimate ground for annulment.)

He is now willing to complete the annulment process. He isn’t supportive of my faith, though, which makes me concerned for my daughter’s formation. Also, because he has an untreatable chronic pain condition, he is about 75% bed-ridden and almost completely impotent.

What is my moral obligation to this marriage?
 
I think it is best for your daughter for her parents to be together. She deserves nothing less. As for him not sharing the faith with you, not to be harsh, but I am sure you knew that before. Your obligation is now to your daughter and she has a right to be raised in a family with both her parents.
Try counseling before giving up (you didn’t mention if you have or not) with clergy or a marriage therapist or both. And maybe try to have your union convalidated (or whatever the proper term/procedure would be) with the Church.
 
T_Melnick said:
What is my moral obligation to this marriage?
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I suggest you seek counsel from a priest. This is very personal and complex, and I don’t think a public message board is the right place for your issue.
 
Thankyou for the two responses to my question. I have sought the counsel of priests and psychologists, but they have been unwilling or unable to give any solid advise. I suppose choosing the path that avoids any further disintegration of the family unit would be best, providing the Church would sanate our marriage.
 
T_Melnick said:
Thankyou for the two responses to my question. I have sought the counsel of priests and psychologists, but they have been unwilling or unable to give any solid advise. I suppose choosing the path that avoids any further disintegration of the family unit would be best, providing the Church would sanate our marriage.
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What makes this situation very imbalanced is that fact that we are hearing your side of the story. Yours seem to be a story about two people who have different religious beliefs and they clash. However the main point is though that you knew the situating to a point when you walked into this marriage.

From what you have written it seems that with the individual attitudes towards religion put aside you also have the knowledge that you seem to think that the relationship is not conducive for your daughters spiritual up bringing and / or it is not healthy for her good health and well being.

In any case it is not a session of counseling so no person could take you into such a setting on a thread. You would be better to go through the forum leaders and or counselors but they would have to be very strong and note all points here for the truth to be understood.

God bless
littleone
 
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