Petrine Privilege within Catholic Conversion

[jerome_ky]

I am in my first marriage. My wife, baptized as a child, was previously married to a non-baptized man. She got a civil divorce several years before we met. We were not Catholic when we met. On coming into the Church, the head of our RCIA program told us our marriage was “covered” (or words to that effect) under Petrine privilege. The priest who brought us into the Church, a canon lawyer, heard both our confessions and knew all the details. Neither of them told us to apply for annulment and we never have. What is the Church’s teaching on this and what, if anything, do we need to do now?

 

[USAFwife]

So are you Catholic then? You’ve been baptized, confirmed etc? Just confused since you mentioned a priest who “brought you into the Church.”

 

[jerome_ky]

Sorry, I left that out. I was also baptized prior to marriage but not Catholic. We both came into the Church as baptized, but not Catholic, Christians.

 

[USAFwife]

I’d talk to whomever in your parish is in charge of annulments. I was told by people I would be eligible for a Petrine privilege, but it turns out that’s not the case. You’d get your best answer from your parish.

 

[otjm]

Best answer to your question: speak to your pastor; if he is the same person you noted in your post and you are not comfortable, speak to the deacon of the parish (if there is one).

If you are not satisfied with the answer, feel free to call your diocese; ask to speak with someone in the tribunal. They can answer some basic questions and get you pointed in the right direction.

There are a few paticipants in the forums who actually can sort through the issues; however, there are others who know less than they think they do, and you can get wrong answers. that is not particularly helpful.

 

[po18guy]

Call your archdiocese and ask to speak with, or leave a message for the Marriage Tribunal. It should be fairly easy to sort out.