RCIA and antecedant marriage

[tee_eff_em]

I am a cradle Catholic, and ignorant of the RCIA process. What is the pastoral application of Canon 1060 in RCIA?

Can. 1060 Marriage possesses the favor of law; therefore, in a case of doubt, the validity of a marriage must be upheld until the contrary is proven.

As I understand it, this means for instance that in ordinary circumstances a tribunal will not investigate before a civil divorce has occurred. But what happens in RCIA? Is there just a simple inquiry (“Were either of you ever married to anyone else before?”)? Or do they dig down to every possible impediment (“Did you understand marriage to be a permanent commitment at the time, or have you since come to that understanding and have you continued to manifest consent?”)? Or something in between? And how is that upholding the validity of marriage, even while doubt persists?


tee

 

[In_His_Grace]

I am a cradle Catholic, and ignorant of the RCIA process. What is the pastoral application of Canon 1060 in RCIA?

As I understand it, this means for instance that in ordinary circumstances a tribunal will not investigate before a civil divorce has occurred. But what happens in RCIA? Is there just a simple inquiry (“Were either of you ever married to anyone else before?”)? Or do they dig down to every possible impediment (“Did you understand marriage to be a permanent commitment at the time, or have you since come to that understanding and have you continued to manifest consent?”)? Or something in between? And how is that upholding the validity of marriage, even while doubt persists?


tee

I went through RCIA a couple of years ago. The first day of RCIA they have you fill out paperwork including information on previous marriages/divorces. As far as I know that’s as deep as they dig into the matter. If you are divorced you are required to obtain a decree of nullity before you will be allowed to be confirmed.

Blessings

 

[1ke]

But what happens in RCIA? Is there just a simple inquiry (“Were either of you ever married to anyone else before?”)?

Each catechumen or candidate will fill out a form or have an interview with the RCIA director or pastor.

During this interview they will give information on their current marital status, intent to contract a future marriage, and prior marriage(s) of both the candidate/catechumen and his/her current or intended spouse as well as baptismal status.

Or do they dig down to every possible impediment

No. It is a case by case situation. The pastor and/or RCIA director would review the particulars of the situation and ask additional questions if needed.

(“Did you understand marriage to be a permanent commitment at the time, or have you since come to that understanding and have you continued to manifest consent?”)? Or something in between? And how is that upholding the validity of marriage, even while doubt persists?

If they stood up and exchanged consent in front of witnesses, their interior disposition is presumed to conform to their outward actions and words.

So, in general, there is no reason to further investigate. Remember, the unbaptized are capable of contracting valid marriage. There is no requirement to know about sacraments or to have a marriage that is a sacrament.

The bar isn’t that high.

 

[In_His_Grace]

What I stated below is inaccurate, what I highlighted red should read divorced/remarried. Someone please correct me if I am in error.

I went through RCIA a couple of years ago. The first day of RCIA they have you fill out paperwork including information on previous marriages/divorces. As far as I know that’s as deep as they dig into the matter. If you are divorced you are required to obtain a decree of nullity before you will be allowed to be confirmed.

Blessings

 

[Horton]

What I stated below is inaccurate, what I highlighted red should read divorced/remarried. Someone please correct me if I am in error.

Yes, it as you corrected, divorced & remarried. The divorced without remarriage do not have to have a decree of nullity to be confirmed.

 

[In_His_Grace]

Yes, it as you corrected, divorced & remarried. The divorced without remarriage do not have to have a decree of nullity to be confirmed.

thank you Horton

 

[Gorgias]

What I stated below is inaccurate, what I highlighted red should read divorced/remarried. Someone please correct me if I am in error.

There’s still a little more to it, though…

The divorced & remarried don’t only have to obtain decrees of nullity, but also, their current marriage should be convalidated – that is, celebrated as a valid marriage in the Church – before they receive the sacraments and enter into full communion with the Church. We don’t want them merely to be ‘free to marry’ (as decree(s) of nullity would attest) – after all, that would mean that they’re still ‘living in sin’, so to speak! So, their current marital situation must be regularized – by entering into a valid marriage – prior to full entry into the Church.

 

[1ke]

There’s still a little more to it, though…

The divorced & remarried don’t only have to obtain decrees of nullity, but also, their current marriage should be convalidated – that is, celebrated as a valid marriage in the Church – before they receive the sacraments and enter into full communion with the Church. We don’t want them merely to be ‘free to marry’ (as decree(s) of nullity would attest) – after all, that would mean that they’re still ‘living in sin’, so to speak! So, their current marital situation must be regularized – by entering into a valid marriage – prior to full entry into the Church.

That is true if they are Catholic or civilly married to a Catholic.

If both parties to the civil marriage are protestant or unbaptized, and the prior marriage(s) are declared null, the current marriage is valid and there is no convalidation.

 

[In_His_Grace]

There’s still a little more to it, though…

The divorced & remarried don’t only have to obtain decrees of nullity, but also, their current marriage should be convalidated – that is, celebrated as a valid marriage in the Church – before they receive the sacraments and enter into full communion with the Church. We don’t want them merely to be ‘free to marry’ (as decree(s) of nullity would attest) – after all, that would mean that they’re still ‘living in sin’, so to speak! So, their current marital situation must be regularized – by entering into a valid marriage – prior to full entry into the Church.

Yes, I remember all that from when I went through RCIA. My wife is Roman Catholic and we have been married for 8 1/2 years. She was divorced and granted a decree of nullity about 10 years ago. I am also divorced and in order for our marriage to convalidated (recognized or blessed by the Catholic Church) and me to be confirmed and enter into full communion with the Catholic Church it would have been necessary for me to obtain a decree of nullity for my previous marriage.

 

[Gorgias]

That is true if they are Catholic or civilly married to a Catholic.

If both parties to the civil marriage are protestant or unbaptized, and the prior marriage(s) are declared null, the current marriage is valid and there is no convalidation.

Right.

I was presuming the case that we typically see in RCIA – one spouse is Catholic and the other is coming into the Church. In that case, a convalidation is required. (I should’ve been more specific.)

(The case of two non-Catholics is usually a much harder nut to crack, inasmuch as often, it’s not the both of them who are in RCIA, and the person’s spouse is typically either uncooperative or uninterested in the process of regularizing the marriage…)

 

[1ke]

Not, it’s not harder, it’s easier.

There isn’t anything to convalidate or “regularize”. If the non-Catholic receives a decree of nullity for the prior marriage, the current marriage IS valid. NOTHING to convalidate.

 

[SMHW]

Not, it’s not harder, it’s easier.

There isn’t anything to convalidate or “regularize”. If the non-Catholic receives a decree of nullity for the prior marriage, the current marriage IS valid. NOTHING to convalidate.

I suspect Gorgias was referring to situations where only one party to a non-Catholic civil marriage wishes to join the Church and the one who is not joining has a prior marriage he/she feels no desire to investigate.

 

[1ke]

I suspect Gorgias was referring to situations where only one party to a non-Catholic civil marriage wishes to join the Church and the one who is not joining has a prior marriage he/she feels no desire to investigate.

Maybe that’s what he meant, but he said “two non-Catholics” so that’s what I was responding to.

 

[Gorgias]

I suspect Gorgias was referring to situations where only one party to a non-Catholic civil marriage wishes to join the Church and the one who is not joining has a prior marriage he/she feels no desire to investigate.

Exactly. Often, the spouse who is not entering RCIA doesn’t see the point in getting his prior marriage annulled, so that his current marriage might be considered valid. Usually, the response is “I already feel married; why should I bother with an annulment?”

1ke:

Maybe that’s what he meant, but he said “two non-Catholics” so that’s what I was responding to.

Right – two non-Catholics, only one of whom is interested in entering into full communion with the Church (when the other has a prior marriage that requires an annulment).

 

[1ke]

Exactly. Often, the spouse who is not entering RCIA doesn’t see the point in getting his prior marriage annulled, so that his current marriage might be considered valid. Usually, the response is “I already feel married; why should I bother with an annulment?”

Right – two non-Catholics, only one of whom is interested in entering into full communion with the Church (when the other has a prior marriage that requires an annulment).

Oh, I see what you are saying now. You aren’t talking about convalidation, you are talking about the difficulties if the non converting spouse won’t seek a decree of nullity.

You switched trains of thought on me.