Remarriage Conundrum

[Cadellin]

What if a non-Catholic woman, say, marries a Catholic in a Catholic church. The woman then divorces her Catholic husband and remarries someone else.

Could her second marriage also be to a Catholic in a Catholic church, or would, as I suspect, the woman be barred from marrying in the Church a second time while her first husband was still alive? (Otherwise she would end up with two Catholic husbands at the one time.)

But what if her second marriage was to a non-Catholic in a civil ceremony. Some years later, perhaps after having borne children, she wants to become a Catholic. Could she become one if her first husband were still alive? Would she, on accepting the faith, have to accept her first marriage? Where would that leave her non-Catholic second husband? Would she have to divorce him? (If not, she would end up with two husbands again.)

In other words, what does the Church have to say about a non-Catholic becoming a Catholic after they’ve divorced their Catholic spouse and remarried?

 

[LeahInancsi]

Annulment (in the Catholic church)! Very simply. In almost every situation when baptized Christians are involved, an annulment is necessary. In your situation with a Catholic marriage involved, I suspect an annulment of the first marriage is unquestionable.

Talk to a priest or canon lawyer.

 

[Liberian]

Cadellin,

However things turn out, the Church is much more interested in setting things straight than she is in condemning people. One of the two marriages is definitely invalid. Beyond that, the other respondent is right: you will need to consult a canon lawyer for an authoritative answer.

• Liberian

 

[puzzleannie]

the Catholic Church recognizes the first marriage as valid until proven otherwise, which means the woman is already married and cannot remarry until the validity of the first marriage is judged and a decree of nullity issued. Civil divorce is beside the point. Each marriage situation is different. The party will have to approach the pastor of the nearest Catholic parish and present her information, tell her story, and begin the process of investigating the first marriage.

 

[KatieD]

And to add to the above post, I don’t believe the woman in question could become Catholic until this is resolved.

 

[mdgspencer]

Anyone in such a situation could consult with the local Catholic priest, which could answer such questions.

 

[LeahInancsi]

And to add to the above post, I don’t believe the woman in question could become Catholic until this is resolved.

True. She’d have to get the first marriage annulled in the Church or first husband would have to be dead before she can become Catholic.

 

[mdgspencer]

I see that I didn’t read the posting carefully enough before my first reply. I still think though she should consult the local parish priest. It is possible to remarry if for example the other person was not baptized or if there are annulment grounds regarding the first marriage.

 

[Seatuck]

And to add to the above post, I don’t believe the woman in question could become Catholic until this is resolved.

She could but she would have to separate from or live as brother and sister with the second “husband”. Since this is extremely difficult most priests wouldn’t do it. However if she demonstrated knowledge of the faith and the willingness to live it righteously it can be done.A lot would depend on what the second husband had to say about it. If he was willing to live in the manner described then that would help things.

 

[rwoehmke]

It is possible to remarry if for example the other person was not baptized .

Only under very special cicumstances. See Pauline Previlege.