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Dear Kyle,
If someone:
- has disappeared
- remains disappeared
for seven years
- is presumed dead and proclaimed
legally dead
the putative widow may marry again legally. I am not sure about the Catholic Church's
position on that situation but perhaps one of
my colleagues can help.
There is no Christian law allowing
anyone to have a sexual relationship outside of marriage,
or to marry again without a divorce.
Catholics consider
divorce to be, for them, only a civil
reality, one
that does not affect the sacramental bond of Matrimony.
Thus, a divorced Catholic still considers herself
or himself to be married, unless the marriage is
found to be null and void. [by a declaration of nullity]
Christians hold that a
woman may marry a person of any faith, though many
denominations discourage interfaith marriages, and
Catholics must obtain permission from their bishop to do so.
Legally, a woman may marry a man of any faith.
I hope this helps,
Mary Ann
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