Possible problems with being married a Catholic?

[rmjdh83]

I wish to be married as a Catholic in about 7 months. Everything is still up in the air, with the planning. But I have a few questions, concerning obstacles that may prevent me from being married within the Catholic church. I am unsure, if these are even problems, but even verification, would be better than the unknowing.

• I am married, already legally through the state. I want to be married in the Catholic church, to be recognized as a Catholic union.
• I have a child that was conceived out of wedlock. With my husband, I now have, however.
• My parish is out- of- state. And I’ve been out of state for years (military).
• My husband is a practicing Catholic, but not a baptized Catholic.
  Can anyone give me guidance to these possible problems, and push me in the right direction, so I may fulfill my own wish and be married as a Catholic. ???

 

[Courtneyjo]

rmjdh83:

I wish to be married as a Catholic in about 7 months. Everything is still up in the air, with the planning. But I have a few questions, concerning obstacles that may prevent me from being married within the Catholic church. I am unsure, if these are even problems, but even verification, would be better than the unknowing.

• I am married, already legally through the state. I want to be married in the Catholic church, to be recognized as a Catholic union.
• I have a child that was conceived out of wedlock. With my husband, I now have, however.
• My parish is out- of- state. And I’ve been out of state for years (military).
• My husband is a practicing Catholic, but not a baptized Catholic.
  Can anyone give me guidance to these possible problems, and push me in the right direction, so I may fulfill my own wish and be married as a Catholic. ???

You need to consult a priest.

Being away from your parish is okay, but you need to consult a priest and say what you did here. You and your husband should make an appointment and see Father as a couple; don’t just catch Father after Mass. You may or may not have impediments to a Catholic marriage. Right now the Church doesn’t consider you married, and neither you nor your husband should be receiving Holy Communion. You will be happy to tell Father that this is no longer occuring, if it is now. Blessings!

 

[Forest-Pine]

I’m sure others will add more info, but this is what I believe.

** I am married, already legally through the state. I want to be married in the Catholic church, to be recognized as a Catholic union.*

Then your marriage will technically be called a convalidation. It can be simple, or if you want can be the whole to-do. Usually simple to moderate is seen.

** I have a child that was conceived out of wedlock. With my husband, I now have, however.*

It does not matter if your child was conceived of your husband or not. 1) You must go to confession. 2) You must have a genuine desire to not continue on the path you were on at one point in time. (In other words, you have to understand and be able to accept what you are promising to.)

** My parish is out- of- state. And I’ve been out of state for years (military).*

My guess would be that you could go to your local church and talk with the priest there, or if you want to go back to your home church you can arrange between the local priest and the home priest.

** My husband is a practicing Catholic, but not a baptized Catholic.*

I wouldn’t swear to it, but I think your husband has to be baptized to have a sacramental wedding (or get a dispensation from the bishop). I think you can have a valid Catholic non-sacramental wedding. If he has an interest in baptism, he could talk to the priest about RCIA while you are there.

When it comes down to it: call up a priest (at the local or home parish) and get started on the road. This dream can be a reality. The priest will guide you on how.

 

[ProudArmyWife]

Don’t forget every military installation has a military priest. Because of our uniqueness diversity, relocating every few years and sacraments in every state (and around the world), your military priest understands your predictaments and is full of answers to your questions.

I’m a convert (baptism and all). Honestly we’ve moved so often that I can’t even remember the name of my home parish! It wasn’t really “home” afterall, just a duty place. I also was not Catholic when we married and had our marriage “blessed” by the Church. I was very nervous about the topic but it was very easy!

 

[lifeisbeautiful]

Hi,

This is great that you are doing this. As long as there are no impediments that you may have overlooked, it seems like a sacramental marriage is very possible for your situation, after you take care of a few (important) things. Before I write anymore, my main concern is: Is your husband baptized at all?

 

[kp1]

Hey fellow military people! Do you attend the Catholic services at your duty station? This is your best bet to get this situation taken care of.

Like the previous poster, is your husband baptismed at all? Is he baptised Christian in a faith that accepts the Holy Trinity? If so, he is baptised Catholic but did not know it. If he is baptised Mormon, he needs to be baptised Catholic because that is one of the faiths the church does not accept as a leagal baptism due to the believe in the Trinity.

The baby out of wed lock. I think it is for confession because you had sex outside of marriage, but it should not prevent you from haviong your marriage blessed.

I know when I got married, I had to get a dispensation, but that was because we were getting married in the church and not some place else.

Talk to your priest. A military priest is best because he will understand your delimma better. He can also work around field, ships movment issues, sorry I do not know what branch you are in.