Valid marriage if invalid baptism?

[Thomas1967]

I was married 20 plus years ago, my ex wife and I were baptised in a penecostal church before we got married.

Many years later I converted to the Catholic faith, and my priest baptised me again because he said my penecostal baptism was invalid…a few years after my conversion my marriage collapsed.

Am I free to marry under the Pauline Privilage???

 

[1ke]

I was married 20 plus years ago, my ex wife and I were baptised in a penecostal church before we got married.

Your marriage, presuming it was the first for both of you, is presumed valid. The unbaptized marry validly.

Many years later I converted to the Catholic faith, and my priest baptised me again because he said my penecostal baptism was invalid…

That may be true, in which case he did the right thing regarding your baptism. That did not impact the validity of your marriage.

a few years after my conversion my marriage collapsed.

I am sorry to hear that.

Am I free to marry under the Pauline Privilage???

You should discuss this with your pastor. The answer is “maybe”.

 

[Usige]

I was married 20 plus years ago, my ex wife and I were baptised in a penecostal church before we got married.

Many years later I converted to the Catholic faith, and my priest baptised me again because he said my penecostal baptism was invalid…a few years after my conversion my marriage collapsed.

Am I free to marry under the Pauline Privilage???

The availabily of the Pauline privilege depends on a number of factors. According to canon 1443, the unbaptized spouse must be the one who left/sought seperation. They also must not have been validly baptized before you seperated/divorced. In theory they are supposed to be asked by the bishop’s office if they would be baptized and live peaceably with you after your baptism, but that ship has already sailed so it would likely be dispensed.

You would need to talk with your pastor to see if the Pauline privilege would apply in your case. The main thing will likely center around who initiated the seperation. If I understand correctly the one that was baptized can’t be the one who initiated the seperation unless the unbaptized spouse was giving “offense to the Creator” (polygamy, unchaste behavior, refusing to let you or any children practice the Christian faith).

 

[Thomas1967]

Thankyou for the replies.

concerning who initiated the separation, it was not me. I was asked to leave the relationship. I expected it to be til death.

This is a sad state of affairs, I converted to the Catholic faith after many years of soul searching, and I finally felt as though I found my spiritual home. but later I was told by my wife the marriage was over. I was only in my late thirties, what can I do, stay alone for the rest of my life and continue to attend mass, or, as I did, I met and fell in love with my now fiancé (who is Catholic). So, I feel I will need to leave the church and find another spiritual home…I feel very lost in regards to where I belong.

 

[VivienneJ]

What a very sad state of affairs, Thomas. Please do not think that this is your only option,

So, I feel I will need to leave the church and find another spiritual home…I feel very lost in regards to where I belong.

rather follow this advice from 1ke:

You should discuss this with your pastor. The answer is “maybe”.

This is not something to be solved on an anonymous internet forum, but face-to-face with your pastor who knows you and can guide you through the best route for you to take while remaining a member of the one true church.

 

[Thomas1967]

Thankyou. Yes, I know. I will talk to my priest and see how it goes. thankyou for your support.