Bringing you the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His Church While PROMOTING CATHOLIC Apologetic Support groups loyal to the Holy Father and Church's magisterium
Home About
AskACatholic.com
What's New? Resources The Church Family Life Mass and
Adoration
Ask A Catholic
Knowledge base
AskACatholic Disclaimer
Search the
AskACatholic Database
Donate and
Support our work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
New Questions
Cool Catholic Videos
About Saints
Disciplines and Practices for distinct Church seasons
Purgatory and Indulgences
About the Holy Mass
About Mary
Searching and Confused
Contemplating becoming a Catholic or Coming home
Homosexual and Gender Issues
Life, Dating, and Family
No Salvation Outside the Church
Sacred Scripture
non-Catholic Cults
Justification and Salvation
The Pope and Papacy
The Sacraments
Relationships and Marriage situations
back
Specific people, organizations and events
Doctrine and Teachings
Specific Practices
Church Internals
Church History

Mary Smith wrote:

Hi, guys —

I am dating a man who is divorced. He was married in a non-Catholic Church to a woman who had been married prior to marrying him.

  • Was his marriage to her valid given that, in the eyes of the Church, she was not free to marry?
  • Is he required to get an annulment before he can marry a Catholic in the Church?

Mary S.

  { Was his marriage to her valid given that, in the eyes of the Church, she was not free to marry? }

Bob replied:

Dear Mary,

Thanks for the question. 

It is likely that his former marriage would be considered invalid since he was married outside the Church.  In that context, he would need a dispensation from the canonical form to have a valid marriage, and without it is, defacto, null.  That is irrespective of her prior marriage, which also would have made it problematic.

I would suggest talking to a priest should the relationship get serious, but I don't think you have a problem with annulments.

Peace,

Bob

Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
© 2012 Panoramic Sites
The Early Church Fathers Church Fathers on the Primacy of Peter. The Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church and the term Catholic. The Early Church Fathers on the importance of the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.