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Keith
Thompson
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
- If you did not get married in the Catholic
Church, do you have to get a annulment
to get married in the Catholic Church?
Keith
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{
If
you did not get married in the Catholic Church,
is an annulment required to get married there? }
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Paul
replied:
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Keith,
That is possible, but we would need
more information. The Church (views|understands)
both sacramental marriages, as well
as natural non-sacramental marriages,
to be valid and indissoluble. If
a Catholic had married outside
the Church it might not need a declaration
of nullity.
Please be more specific so that we
may be able to help you better.
Paul
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Keith
replied:
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Thanks Paul,
I have been married four times. The
first three were for all for the
wrong reasons. The fourth was a good
marriage; I was married 24 years.
She passed away in February of this
year.
The first marriage was in a
church; I don't remember what religion,
but it wasn't Catholic. The other marriages were all done by a Justice
of the Peace.
I have changed my life and become
more faithful. I have met a good
Catholic lady and would like to get
married in the Catholic Church.
Thank you,
Keith
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Paul
replied:
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Dear Keith,
A few crucial things have been left
out so far regarding your situation.
One is, if you were a baptized Catholic
through all of this. Only Catholics
need to satisfy the requirements
of canon law and marry in the
Church for it to be valid.
In other words, the Church would
recognize a marriage of two non-Catholics
from a Justice of the Peace as being
valid.
If you were a baptized Catholic and
your first marriage was not a Catholic
wedding then it's possible you never
have been validly married and could
be free to marry in the Church.
It
would be a good idea to talk this
all out with your pastor.
Peace,
Paul
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Keith —
Even if you were not a Catholic,
the fact that you married so often
indicates that you did not hold the
true intention of marriage necessary
for validity:
- permanence until death
- and fruitfulness. (e.g. children)
Mary Ann
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