Hi, guys —

My husband and I are practicing Catholics. We were both divorced (me, a non-Catholic marriage ceremony, him, a Catholic marriage ceremony). We were married by a Justice of the Peace as he did not obtain an annulment before our wedding.

We are going to a Catholic tribunal to obtain an annulment for my husband from his first marriage. We would like the Church to bless our current marriage however I am having trouble obtaining my baptismal certificate.

My parents are both deceased along with my aunts, uncles and grandparents who would know where I was baptized. I have no information and can't remember for sure where I went to church. It was in the Columbus, Ohio area. I do remember being confirmed and going to CCD classes. My childhood was rather chaotic as we moved quite a bit.

My parents were divorced and I was sent to live with my father, who was Catholic and also lived in the Columbus area. I have been in contact with the Columbus diocese and they have no record of my father as a member of any church. My sisters are not Catholic as they lived with my mother and she was a Methodist.

If the diocese is unable to obtain my baptismal certificate:

• What recourse do I have to prove that I am Catholic and so I can go before the tribunal to ask that our marriage be blessed?

Thank you.

Cindi T.