What is someone's standing if he has 2 marriages & 2 divorces?

[doba63088]

Hello,
Cradle Catholic brother in law married an Episcopalian in her church with a priest present. Was not a practicing Catholic. Divorced her after 18 years. Was baptized as a Baptist. Then married a Methodist in a civil ceremony. Divorce her after 3 years. What is his standing with the church? Could he receive the sacraments again? Get married in a Catholic church? Thank you.

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

You said that he was “married an Episcopalian in her church with a priest present.” If you mean that a Catholic priest was present then my assumption would be that he applied for the proper dispensations to be married outside the Church. That would mean that this marriage is presumed valid.
If none of the proper dispensations were acquired then the marriage would be invalid and the Catholic priest made a serious error in judgment by attending.

His second marriage would be considered invalid either because of a prior valid bond (the marriage to his Episcopal wife) or if that marriage was invalid this one would still be invalid due to being a Catholic married outside the Church without dispensation.

Since he is not currently civilly married to anyone then he is free to return to the Catholic Church through the sacrament of confession and resume receiving the sacraments thereafter. However if he is hoping to someday be married again he needs to resolve the situation with his Episcopal marriage.