Question about Catholic marriage

[Worthy12]

I have some questions-hoping someone can help! I have never been baptized, and am currently in an RCIA program. I was married previously, but divorced several years ago. My ex-husband also was never baptized. I am now engaged, and we were hoping to have a Catholic wedding. Any chances of this happening (getting the ok) by next year?

Any suggestions on what steps to take?

 

[Timidity]

Worthy12:

Any suggestions on what steps to take?

Call the priest first thing tommorrow.

 

[Catholic2003]

Worthy12:

Any suggestions on what steps to take?

You need to get working on an annulment ASAP.

A catechumen who has not yet joined the Church at Easter Vigil is still eligible for a Catholic wedding. The main problem is your previous marriage.

 

[puzzleannie]

Nobody on this forum can answer your question, you must see your priest, be completely honest about all the facts of your current and previous marriages of both of you (including previous marriages of your former spouses, if any). The Catholic Church considers any marriage valid unless proven otherwise, which can only be done through investigation by your diocesan marriage tribunal. See your priest.

 

[rayne89]

I could be wrong but if both were not baptized and married outside of the church the church does not reconize their previous marriges does it? What would they be annulling? Cival unions are not reconized as marrige in the churches eyes as far as I know. Definately a priest could easily answer any question about it though.

 

[Catholic2003]

rayne89:

I could be wrong but if both were not baptized and married outside of the church the church does not reconize their previous marriges does it? What would they be annulling? Cival unions are not reconized as marrige in the churches eyes as far as I know. Definately a priest could easily answer any question about it though.

This isn’t quite right. Civil marriages of Catholics are not recognized, but civil marriages of two non-Catholics are recognized.

 

[Worthy12]

Thanks, everyone, for the info. It sounds like it could be pretty complicated! How are annulments granted?

 

[Catholic2003]

Worthy12:

Thanks, everyone, for the info. It sounds like it could be pretty complicated! How are annulments granted?

You go talk to the priest, and he will ask you a series of factual questions relating to your first marriage, looking for possible grounds for annulment. There are three types of annulments (from easiest to hardest):

• Lack of form - Only applies when one or both parties to the marriage was Catholic, and the wedding ceremony was not performed in the Catholic Church (and no dispensation was obtained from the bishop to hold the ceremony elsewhere). Very easy to prove; will only take weeks or a few months at most.
• Documentary case - Applies when the marriage is invalid due to a clear-cut violation of the one of the Catholic canon law rules for valid marriages. The most common documentary case for two non-Catholics is called “ligamen” or “prior bond”. It applies when the party not seeking the annulment had a prior marriage that ended in divorce. Also easy to prove; will only take a month or so.
• Formal case - Applies when the marriage is invalid due to some type of mental grounds, e.g., defect of consent, grave lack of due discretion, and so on. Formal cases are much more difficult to prove, and take from nine months to two years, or more in some cases. You will have to fill out a very long and detailed questionaire on every aspect of your childhood, courtship, wedding, and marriage. Depending on the diocese, the fee for a formal case could be anywhere from free to $1000.

There is no guarantee that a formal case annulment will be granted. The tribunal that investigates the marriage is trying to get at the truth with regard to the validity of the marriage. It is not in any way a “Catholic divorce” that is always granted to allow a person to remarry.

In addition to annulments, there are dissolution procedures that apply when one or both of the parties were not baptized Christians. They are called the Pauline privilege and the Petrine privilege, and are processed by the Church tribunal just as formal cases.

Hope this helps. See this link for more details.

 

[Catholic2003]

Sorry, I was rushing last night when I read your original post. Based on the fact that neither you nor your ex were baptized, it looks like Pauline privilege may be the way to go for you.

Unlike annulment, which focuses on conditions at the time of the wedding ceremony, Pauline privilege is a dissolution of a prior marriage, and focuses on conditions at the time of the breakup/separation/divorce.

But “go talk to your priest” is the correct advice regardless. Good luck!

 

[Timidity]

To summarize this thread:

Worthy12:

Any suggestions on what steps to take?

Timidity:

Call the priest…

puzzleannie:

See your priest.

rayne89:

Definately a priest could easily answer any question about it though.

Catholic2003:

…“go talk to your priest” is the correct advice regardless

Wow–it’s not that often around here that everyone agrees!

Did you call the rectory yet?