Hi, guys —

My question concerns the validity of my marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

Let me give you some background:

• I was born into a Catholic family
• was baptized
• studied the Catechism
• received Holy Communion, and
• was an altar boy for several years, but was never confirmed in the faith.

Later, as a teen, I became agnostic, left the Church, and lived as a pagan. Eventually, I joined a community Christian church, was baptized again, and began trying to live a Christian life.

My studies of:

• the Scriptures
• the Fathers
• and now Catholic Church teachings

have led me to seriously take a second look at the Catholic faith. Occasionally, I have attended
a Catholic Mass over my life time, but until very recently, have considered myself an evangelical Christian. It has been nearly 50 years since I considered myself Catholic.

I have been married twice and divorced once. I have been married to my present wife for 34 years. She was baptized and confirmed as a Catholic. Occasionally she has attended Catholic services, but has mainly been a member of Protestant churches as well, living the same life I have.

My first marriage was by a Justice of the Peace. The second, to my present wife, was by a Protestant minister.

If you could address the following questions, it would be appreciated:

1. Would the Catholic Church recognize my present marriage?
2. What would we need to do to be able to receive Holy Communion again and fully participate in the Mass?
3. Can you recommend a Catholic website with the writings of early Fathers?

Thank-you in advance for considering these questions.

May God Bless You!

Al