Ron —

Your daughter's fiancé totally misunderstands annulments. They do not offend God.

They are a finding that something was lacking at the time of marriage that would render the marriage invalid. It affects the sacramental bond, not the civil marriage, which remains legal.
The children always remain legitimate; legal children of the civilly married couple.

Your daughter may not marry him until he receives a declaration of nullity, because the Church does not know if he is free to marry, (i.e. not married to that other person.) She [the Church] has to determine if there is a prior bond that still holds (because a true marriage is until the death of one of the spouses.)

Mary Ann

Hi, Ron —

He will need to get an annulment or they will both be in a state of adultery.

However, this man is mistaken in his reasoning:

The annulment does not make the child illegitimate in any way, shape or form.

So he should move forward and attempt to get an annulment.

• If it is granted, he's free to marry.
• If he's not, your daughter can't marry him and still receive the sacraments.

John