Question on remarriage and divorce

[JanSobieskiIII]

I’ve recently met a girl, nothing real serious were still getting to know each other, but, she is divorced. I’ve never been married. She’s not catholic wasn’t married catholic. If we start dating and we get to the point of talking about marriage, what am I looking at as far as obstacles? I’m already leery because she’s 24 and divorced which doesn’t bode well in my opinion but she seems genuinely nice. Her side of the story is her and her ex met in the army and when they got stationed in separate areas the distance put strain on the relationship and long story short they parted ways. If it was a civil marriage only would the church consider that a marriage? I haven’t asked any details because i don’t feel I’m at a level to be asking her these questions, but at the same time I don’t want to waste my own time with someone I can’t have a future with and maintain my faith.

 

[pianistclare]

Ask your confessor.

 

[JanSobieskiIII]

I’m still in RCIA, I’ll definitely ask at our next class but I’m curious now lol

 

[pianistclare]

There is a member named ACanonLawyer.
I’d pm him.

 

[1ke]

If we start dating and we get to the point of talking about marriage, what am I looking at as far as obstacles?

She is currently not free to marry. In order to move forward, she would have been be declared free to marry. This would include an investigation of her prior marriage. Marriages between non-Catholics are presumed to be valid unless they are proven otherwise.

This could mean a tribunal case to petition for a decree of nullity, or if unbaptized people are involved there may be other avenues through the favor of the faith. If her ex-husband was a Catholic, then there may be other options as well. The details matter.

Any way you slice it, she would need to present her marriage to the Church for a decision. This is something you should discuss with your pastor. We can only give generalities here because the details really do matter.

If it was a civil marriage only would the church consider that a marriage?

In general, yes. Non-Catholics marry validly when they marry civilly.

 

[Vico]

If we start dating and we get to the point of talking about marriage, what am I looking at as far as obstacles?

It is idea for a Catholic to marry a Catholic but permission is given sometimes to marry a Christian or dispensation to marry a non Christian.

 

[Horton]

The very simpler answer is she would need to have her marriage investigated either by your priest or the marriage tribunal. The priest or other advocate (some parishes have deacons or lay people trained to work on marriage cases) will help with the petition and send it along to the diocesan marriage tribunal. They will make a finding.

Other than that no one here can give an answer.

 

[JanSobieskiIII]

I appreciate all the answers. Like I said it’s a long way off from being something to even really worry about. I was curious mostly