Hi Marleen,
You said:
I was baptized Catholic but am
uncertain if I made my Confirmation. I was married
outdoors by a Methodist minister/pastor to a non-Catholic.
I am now divorced and came across some confusing
information regarding whether or not the marriage
is recognized by the Catholic Church.
The good news is, this is straightforward.
- Assuming
you did not arrange with a Catholic priest for a
dispensation to get married in a non-Catholic church,
and
- did not get a dispensation to marry a non-Catholic
your
marriage to him is invalid.
You said:
I now have someone very special
in my life. He is a devout Catholic and has since
led me to rediscover my Catholic faith. I believe
that marriage may be in our future.
- Does the Catholic Church recognize
the marriage or do I need to seek an annulment?
You are free to marry in the Church as soon as you
have some routine paperwork done, establishing that
you married without the proper dispensations.
You do not have to go through the normal annulment
process.
Eric
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