Stephanie,
While John is correct that your marriages
may need to be annulled,
that is not necessarily the case.
There is a Scripture-based provision
in Catholicism which allows those
who convert to be freed from their
first union if the first spouse is
unwilling to convert or to be at
peace with the conversion. It would
depend on some circumstances with
your first union, which will be looked
at, if you wish. Just talk to the
Catholic pastor.
Of course, even before you seek an
annulment, you may become
Catholic and you may remain together,
especially because of the children.
The question is whether you may live as husband and wife. That would depend on whether
both of you were validly married
in the first unions, and on other
things, so don't worry. One of the
main reasons for invalid marriages
is that people marry with the belief
that divorce and remarriage are an
option; that marriage is not until
death, in any real sense, independent
of the personal choice of the couple.
That is not the Catholic concept
of marriage, and therefore, one who
marries with that concept lacks valid
intent.
God bless you both.
Mary Ann
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