Question on RCIA Requirements

[cavaleriesoldaa]

I’m trying to help a friend into the faith. His wife is Catholic, however, she would need an annulment for them to be able to be married in the Church. He, of course is not Catholic and wants to become Catholic. To add to the further complication, they might end up in divorce.

I’m foggy on this, can he still join the church?

 

[onjac]

My best advice: consult a priest.

 

[R_C]

Everyone is called to and allowed to join the Church, no matter what.

That being said: if they are married, they are married, period. The Church acknowledges their marriage as valid, even if it is civil. The issue comes forth because there is a previous marriage that has not been declared null.

Now, perhaps you mean he wishes that their marriage be convalidated by the Church as sacramental. Right now, neither of them is allowed to receive the Holy Eucharist until their marriage is convalidated by the Church.

So the steps would be: for him, to begin RCIA and talk to the priest about his situation; for them, to begin the request for the annulment of her previous marriage. Later, if the tribunal finds that the previous marriage was invalid, they will be able to request the convalidation.

Now: in the very unfortunate case that they end up in a divorce, then she would need 2 annulments in order to re-marry, and he would need 1 annulment if he becomes Catholic and wants to re-marry.

However, as long as they divorce and not re-marry, assuming they live in chastity, of coruse, it is my understanding that they can partake of the Holy Eucharist. But right now they cannot.

 

[1ke]

Everyone is called to and allowed to join the Church, no matter what.

This is not accurate. A person in an irregular marriage situation will need to deal with that situation before they can enter the church.

That being said: if they are married, they are married, period. The Church acknowledges their marriage as valid, even if it is civil.

This is also not accurate. There is not presumption of validity, there is a prior bond.

Now: in the very unfortunate case that they end up in a divorce, then she would need 2 annulments in order to re-marry, and he would need 1 annulment if he becomes Catholic and wants to re-marry.

This is not correct. The friend of the OP wanting to become a Catholic is the man, not the woman. He would have a Ligamen case (if he has never been married) which is not a decree of nullity but rather an administrative case.

 

[R_C]

Thanks as always for your clarifications, 1ke I tried to help but got it all upside down

So even Baptism is precluded? I thought that, due to the personal nature of that Sacrament, nothing could prevent someone from receiving it. I thought, but didn’t know.