Remarrying in RCC after anullment

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dmarieb

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This may sound strange…my Mom asked me to look into this for her. She tried googling this, but came up with different answers. She wasn’t sure if they were accurate, anyways. So this is my question: Can two people who received an anullment through the Church remarry each other again in the Church? :ehh: Yes, you read that right. It is a strange situation, to say the least. But it is for my parents and my Mom is hoping the answer is yes. Does anyone know for sure and could you back up the answer with Canon Law or something? Thanks!
 
dmarieb said:
This may sound strange…my Mom asked me to look into this for her. She tried googling this, but came up with different answers. She wasn’t sure if they were accurate, anyways. So this is my question: Can two people who received an anullment through the Church remarry each other again in the Church? :ehh: Yes, you read that right. It is a strange situation, to say the least. But it is for my parents and my Mom is hoping the answer is yes. Does anyone know for sure and could you back up the answer with Canon Law or something? Thanks!
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If they could not be married before, how can it be valid a second time? Did a pre-existing condition expire? I think the best way to proceed is not to get online advice but for your parents to meet with a priest and ask the question. Peace be with you and best wishes to your parents.
 
thank you, Kell for the response. As you mentioned, I am not looking for advice, as the situation is quite personal and very emotional. It has been a long journey for my family. Nonetheless, I was simply curious if someone knew of a set law on this one. The priest my Mom would discuss this with was the one who helped her through the anullment. I am sure there is a level of discomfort she feels in discussing it with him. But that is for her, not me to work through. And obviously, it will be done in time. As far as the grounds under which the anullment was granted, I am not privy to knowing that. Obviously, my parents are aware of that. Regardless, she asked if I could find out if the Church had a stance on this one and I told her that I would look into it. If anyone knows, I would appreciate any information. Thanks.
 
no way to answer here because there is no way to know any of the many variables involved. the individual must see their priest, preferably one who knows the circumstances surrounding the annulment.
 
dmarieb said:
This may sound strange…my Mom asked me to look into this for her. She tried googling this, but came up with different answers. She wasn’t sure if they were accurate, anyways. So this is my question: Can two people who received an anullment through the Church remarry each other again in the Church? :ehh: Yes, you read that right. It is a strange situation, to say the least. But it is for my parents and my Mom is hoping the answer is yes. Does anyone know for sure and could you back up the answer with Canon Law or something? Thanks!
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Wait! Let me see if I understand this.

Are you asking if two people who had been married to each other, then got a divorce, and and annulment can marrry each other again? (John and Jane get married. Then they get divorced and the marriage is declared null. Later John and Jane reconcile and want to marry each other again.)

Is that what you are asking?

While I have no clue of this is forbidden, my gut tells me that this would be permitted.
 
rpp said:
Wait! Let me see if I understand this.

Are you asking if two people who had been married to each other, then got a divorce, and and annulment can marrry each other again? (John and Jane get married. Then they get divorced and the marriage is declared null. Later John and Jane reconcile and want to marry each other again.)

Is that what you are asking?

While I have no clue of this is forbidden, my gut tells me that this would be permitted.
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Except of course for the word “again” since there was never a marriage to begin with. 😃

Sorry, I’m too exacting I know.
 
Your parents need to take themselves to a priest, one they trust and whose counsel they will heed, and ask. Maybe your parents could explore setting an appointment with a canon lawyer or somebody on the tribunal in your diocese. Maybe Deacon Cameron will come in and asnwer this one on the theoretical aspects (he is an excellentcanon lawyer). In reality, there are way too many variables for most of us to determine this. If we said “Yeh, sure” and then your parents cicumstances didn’t permit it- well…
 
rpp said:
Wait! Let me see if I understand this.

Are you asking if two people who had been married to each other, then got a divorce, and and annulment can marrry each other again? (John and Jane get married. Then they get divorced and the marriage is declared null. Later John and Jane reconcile and want to marry each other again.)

Is that what you are asking?

While I have no clue of this is forbidden, my gut tells me that this would be permitted.
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Yes, I too believe it would be permitted as long as certain conditions are met. First is that there were not stipulations attatched to decree of nullity. Sometimes a person is told they cannot marry in the Catholic Church or that certain conditions must be met such as they go to a type of counseling. Secondly all the typical impediments for marriage must be absent in the best judgement of the priest who will preside over the ceremony.This would be the case if these were two formerly married people or two people who attempted marriage to two others.
So, basically as usual with marriage questions -go seek a priest or a representative from the marriage tribunal is the advice.
 
kell0618 said:
If they could not be married before, how can it be valid a second time?
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That would depend on what the reason for the annulment was. A lack of consent that was present 30 years ago may no longer be present; the same could be said of a lack of maturity.
 
Thank you for your replies! My Mom was curious because she didn’t want to move forward unless she knew it was even possible. I will continue my prayers for them!
 
If there is a valid annulment then the word REMARRY is an oxymoron.

You cannot Marry again if you were never married in the first place.

If they were annuled then they have never been married to each other.

If they have never been Married before and they are both Catholics then I wonder why one would think they cannot get Married to someone.

So if everything checks out OK they CANNOT remarry\ becuase marriage is a one time deal and is not somthing that can be REdone.

BUT they can get married even to each other. Provdied they have not been married to someone else

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHY DID THEY GET AN ANNULMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE?. Not always but very frequently people seek annulments because they want to get married to somone else.
 
I would add than I do not think an annulment here would make any difference.

Using the example in my earlier post, John and Jane were married. The Church presumes the marriage valid. They get divorced. The Church still presumes the marriage to be valid and still extant.

Now they have reconciled, fallen back in love, realized that the divorce was a mistake want to marry each other.

If there were no annulment, this would be a simple civil process as the Church still presumes them to be married. If there is an annulment, then they are unmarried in the eyes of the Church so a sacrmental (Church) wedding would be called for.

Other than the things that Seatuck wisely mentioned, I simply do not think that the Church would say this is improper. I do think, however, that some serious pre-Cana counseling should be undertaken to ensure that this couple really understand what marriage means.

dmarieb, I would encourage your parent to read the book, Love and Responsibility by Archbishop Karol Wojtwa (later Pope John Paul II). This book, while a bit deep at times, can really help people to understand what love really is and how to have a love that will last a lifetime. It was
written in 1960, before the Pope presented his Theology of the Body.
 
rpp, i appreciate your post. however, I find myself getting defensive in response to your last paragraph. It is presumptuous to assume my parents’ lack of understanding of love. I could write pages on this situation, but do not feel this is is an appropriate forum to discuss it. My mother is a saintly woman and has read numerous papal encyclicals, as have I. She follows the teachings of the Church faithfully.

Anyway, as I said, there is too much background that is not appropriate to share online. Simply, they didn’t want to move forward if there was some Canon law that would prevent them from getting married in the Church.
 
dmarieb said:
rpp, i appreciate your post. however, I find myself getting defensive in response to your last paragraph. It is presumptuous to assume my parents’ lack of understanding of love. I could write pages on this situation, but do not feel this is is an appropriate forum to discuss it. My mother is a saintly woman and has read numerous papal encyclicals, as have I. She follows the teachings of the Church faithfully.

Anyway, as I said, there is too much background that is not appropriate to share online. Simply, they didn’t want to move forward if there was some Canon law that would prevent them from getting married in the Church.
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Sorry about that. I certainly meant no offense. I have recently read Love and Responsibility and have personally found it to be life-changing. It has opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at people and love.

It was not my intent to imply your parents are somehow missing it or are not faithful. Quite the contrary, I only recommend it becuase it can really open the eyes of people. Consider reading it for yourself! Really. It has changed my life for the better.

In the future, I think you will be seeing me suggest this book to others. It is fantastic!!! 🙂

I am sorry that I did not make this clear in my earlier post. I should have said that I think it is a book that EVERYONE who is considering marriage, or even dating for that matter, should read. If more people read it, there would be a whole lot of unemployed lawyers out there! And that would be a good thing!

Again, I am sorry if I implied that your parents were somehow not faithful or were doing something wrong. Actually, I truly feel quite the opposite. I applaud them for wanting to get back together. Please forgive me.
 
rpp,
I figured you didn’t mean anything by it and it was mostly where I was coming from. I truly appreciate your apology - none needed! 🙂 This issue is very delicate and has been quite a roller coaster ride for over a decade with my family. If God is able to heal this relationship, it would be a miraculous answer to prayer! Many, many years of prayer! At the beginning of Lent, I felt something big was going to happen and it seems it may. I am trying not to get too hopeful, but I know God can soften the hardest of hearts.

I know what you mean about reading something life-changing. I have read a few of JPII’s encyclicals. I am always blown-away at his spiritual wisdom! Ah - baby is crying…gotta run. Thank you again for your apology.
 
I am not getting nosy here…(not trying to) But when people get divorced it is for various reasons. But after civil divorce people often do not seek an annulment unless they want to Marry again…Usually (not always) annulments come after people plan on getting Married. Could you share why either of your parents sought an annulment?
 
in a nutshell, my Mom needed to feel one with the Church. She seeked healing and peace. To this day, she says that when she received word that the divorce went through, she felt nothing either way. It was just another day. But when her anullment was granted, she grieved so much. Neither were looking to marry someone else. It is interesting to hear her speak after all they’ve been through. In her heart, she says she still feels married to my father. Well, I could go on and on. But I feel some may not understand what I am saying here or may begin to judge the situation. It is an intricate one. And I have learned to not assume where others are coming from anymore. I have seen much devastation and much healing within my family over the years. I believe God has helped us all to grow on our own paths. Anyway, I could go on and on…
 
I think it is absolutely wonderful that people who were once married would want to reconcile and get back together. I cannot imagine what hope and joy that must bring to their children. How absolutely grand and glorious. I think this may be the Holy Spirit at work! 👍
 
I think this may be the Holy Spirit at work!
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That’s what I’m praying! But Satan is really working hard on both of them. I know that God is greater!
 
dmarieb said:
in a nutshell, my Mom needed to feel one with the Church. She seeked healing and peace. …
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Thanks for sharing. With that in mind I really see no reason why they cannot get married.

Like so many others have mentioned here…its time for them to start the process by contacting her/a priest.

It is really a nice story. Its nice to see that your parents didn’t remarry…that would seriously complicate the matter and make it quite awkward for you as well.
 
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