Writing a story and need some help

[umgriz932001]

So, I’m writing a story where my main lady has two children and is divorced. But here is the tricky part…her husband was already married to two other women. Plus, he didn’t use his real name when he married her…a triple identity. And my leading ladey didn’t know, till her “husband” is busted for embezzlement and fraud. Since he committed bigamy, what would the view of the church be in this? Would their marriage be considered invalid? When it comes for my leading lady and her true love to marry, what would they have to do? I am going to submit my story to publishers and want it to be correct in the Church’s view. Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[GEddie]

AIUI. If the husband was married prior to her, he could not validly marry her.

Therefore in Catholic terms, she was never married, and is free to marry her “true love” when he shows up.

NB: I am not a priest, just an average sinner:shrug:

Good luck on the publisher!

ICXC NIKA!

 

[svid]

And he didn’t give his real name. That’s enough to annul, even if he had been single and eligable.

 

[laszlo]

From Catholic point of view it is very hard to suppose that the husband wanted an indissoluble marriage with her, so the marriage almost certainly is null and void from the beginning.

Legally the validity of the Catholic marriage does not depends on the validity of the civil marriage, so if she wants to remarry she had to go through a nullity process, unless it is clear that one of the previous marriages of the husband was valid in the eye of the Church.

 

[PerfectTiming]

It would be invalid, or at least could be annulled.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Her marriage is referred to a “putative marriage”, one party [her] believed it valid. She had no knowledge of his lack of freedom to marry. Thus the children are legitimate and she has committed no wrong. However, the Tribunal will almost certainly rule the marriage invalid and she will be free to marry. This is one of the quicker and easier cases. I think it is referred to as a ligumen [not sure on that spelling]; one of the parties was already married and thus was not free to contract a valid marriage.

Note that a marriage is presumed valid unless proven otherwise; therefore it is presumed that one of his previous marriages is valid. There is no requirement to investigate those marriages.

Note that I am not an expert on this, but have picked up much information in my years of running RCIA; especially those years the Judicial Vicar was resident in our parish.