Question on previous marriage

[cris3429]

Hi everyone, I am currently Methodist but have been feeling a strong pull to the Catholic Church. My biggest hangup to joining the church is that I was married, divorced, and subsequently remarried. I know the Catholic Church does not recognize second marriages if the first one was not annulled, but my question is this. My first wife was married and divorced before we ever met. Since her first marriage was never anulled, does that then mean my first marriage was never valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church? Would my first marriage still have to be annulled before considering going through the RCIA process? Thank you for any and all information you can give on this!

 

[Crocus]

No one here can give you that information. There are too many possible variations. Best to contact a priest or the diocese for advice on your particular circumstances.

 

[1ke]

Since her first marriage was never anulled, does that then mean my first marriage was never valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church?

Maybe.

Would my first marriage still have to be annulled before considering going through the RCIA process?

Each marriage would need to be examined to determine whether you are currently validly married or not. Whether that ultimately results in a tribunal nullity case, a Ligamen (prior bond) process, or some other process depends on the facts and details, including baptismal statuses of all involved, prior marriages of all involved, and facts surrounding each marriage.

Your next step would be to sit down in an appointment with a priest or deacon to talk through the details.

Typically one can participate in RCIA while their marriage situation is being sorted out. Entrance into the Church would wait until the marriage issues were resolved.

 

[Horton]

You may start RCIA but to be brought in fully to the Catholic Church your first marriage would have to be investigated and a decree of some sort issued.

When I converted I had a similar situation except I was not married at the time of my conversion. Based only on the information you’ve posted, it should be relatively easy to resolve this. A gathering of documents really. However to get a precise answer to your situation you will need to speak to a priest or marriage tribunal advocate.

 

[Kima]

Schedual an appointment with a priest to discuss this.
May God bless you!

 

[Wesrock]

We can’t definitvely answer this question on the forum, the particulars must be properly investigated by the appropriate people, but it sounds like the could be grounds for nullity due to your first wife’s prior marriage.