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Elizabeth Loke wrote:

Hi, guys —

I was 51 and my husband was 56 when we married in 2002. We were not married in a Catholic Church. I am Catholic and he is Protestant.

We were both divorced, however my marriage was annulled by the Church. He was married by a justice of peace. I was told by my parish priest that my husband needs a Catholic annulment of his civil marriage in order for us to be married in the Church. Our only available witness died this past October.

  • Is there anything that can be done so I can be married in the Church?

I asked my priest six months ago and still have not received an answer. My husband is a Canadian citizen and he was married up there in 1965. His marriage lasted less than a year and there is no way to trace her.

I am not in good health and would like to return to full practice of my faith but not if I have to divorce my husband to do so.

  • Is there anything I can do?

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Elizabeth
  { Seeing I'm not in good health and want to practice my faith, what can I do to marry in the Church? }

Mary Ann replied:

Dear Elizabeth,

I am sorry for your difficult situation. Your husband just needs to have his marriage looked at by the tribunal to make sure it was not valid. There are many possible reasons:

  • what he thought marriage was
  • what she thought it was
  • whether they intended on having children, and
  • whether he was baptized

It should not be complex, and his testimony can suffice when none other can be found.

Don't delay . . . get the priest to start the paperwork immediately.

God bless.

Mary Ann

Bob replied:

Elizabeth,

  • Since your priest hasn't given you any new information, why not go to the chancery of your diocese for help?

Perhaps your priest can't help, but they may be able to. There may be someone who handles all of these inquiries for the diocese that would specialize in what you need.

Good luck,

Bob Kirby
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