Very Confused about remarriage in Catholic church

[cec1339]

My mom was raised methodist and my dad catholic. They were married in a methodist ceremony, and my family grew up in the methodist church. My dad had an affair, divorced my mom, and married his mistress through a justice of the peace. My dad has returned to practicing catholicism,and he and his wife are now getting “married” in the Catholic church at the end of the year. I am very confused and need a little help. How can my dad practice catholicism if he broke one of the ten commandments? Does he have to have an anulment of his marriage to my mom in order to marry his new wife in the church? If there is an anulment necessary, does the catholic church view any children form my parents’ marriage to be out of wedlock? Thanks so much for any help.

 

[1ke]

How can my dad practice catholicism if he broke one of the ten commandments?

God forgives every sin if we ask his forgiveness. This is what the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is for.

Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son. The father welcomed him home with open arms and a great celebration.

We should rejoice when a sinner repents.

Does he have to have an anulment of his marriage to my mom in order to marry his new wife in the church?

That depends on several factors that we do not know from your post. It depends upon whether he received permission to be married to your mother outside the Catholic form of marriage (you state they were married in a Methodist ceremony.) If he did receive the proper permissions then yes, his marriage was valid and he would have to seek a decree of nullity. If he married without such permission his marriage would be invalid and he has what is called a “lack of form”. That means he does not need a declaration of nullity.

If there is an anulment necessary, does the catholic church view any children form my parents’ marriage to be out of wedlock?

No.

 

[bilop]

My mom was raised methodist and my dad catholic. They were married in a methodist ceremony, and my family grew up in the methodist church. My dad had an affair, divorced my mom, and married his mistress through a justice of the peace. My dad has returned to practicing catholicism,and he and his wife are now getting “married” in the Catholic church at the end of the year. I am very confused and need a little help. How can my dad practice catholicism if he broke one of the ten commandments? Does he have to have an anulment of his marriage to my mom in order to marry his new wife in the church? If there is an anulment necessary, does the catholic church view any children form my parents’ marriage to be out of wedlock? Thanks so much for any help.

It is hard to get into specifics over the internet, but I’ll give you the general rules.

Catholics are required to marry in the Catholic Church or get a dispensation to marry in another Church. If your father married your mother in a Methodist Church, without a dispensation, that marriage could be declared invalid.

This does NOT affect the legitimacy of children. Children can not be made illegitimate ex post.

If you father received a decree of nullity for his marriage with your mother, he would then be free to remarry in the Church. He would definitely need such a decree. If he married w/o Church permission, this would be easy to get.

Sin does not affect our ability to be Catholics. We all sin. If your father repented his sin and went to confession, he could be a Catholic in good standing again.

Hope that helps.

God Bless

 

[Claire_from_DE]

This is a very sad story. I feel badly for your family.

 

[bpbasilphx]

How can my dad practice catholicism if he broke one of the ten commandments?

Do your own sins mean you’re not a Methodist?