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Angela wrote:

To whom it may concern,

I am a widow who wishes to remarry in the Catholic Church. My fiancé is divorced because his first wife carried on a two year affair with a man who she eventually left for. When she told him of the affair, she also told him that he needed to leave their home because she didn't love him anymore and she was filing for a divorce to be with the other man.

I know that right now no one can guarantee that an annulment will be granted for him.

My question is:

  • Does he have grounds to file on the basis of adultery?

I just wanted to know if an annulment has a chance of going through. We can provide letters of documentation of the affair, even from her family. There is even a chance that we can get a letter from the ex-wife about the affair.

I guess I'm trying to ensure that this isn't a lost cause before I get my hopes up.

Again, I know that there are no guarantees.

Thank you for your time.

Angela

  { Based on her adultery, does my fiancé have a chance of his annulment going through successfully? }

John replied:

Hi Angela,

Annulments are based on pre-existing impediments that render the marriage sacramentally invalid. These impediments range from:

  • a refusal to have children
  • a known inability to have children that was not disclosed, or
  • emotional immaturity, which made the couple incapable of entering into a sacramental marriage.

An affair or infidelity by itself is not grounds for an annulment unless it is symptomatic of another preexisting impediment. Marriage vows are for better or for worse.

That said it is possible that, after an investigation of the situation, the facts will [allow/grant]
an annulment

Hope this helps,

John DiMascio
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