Hi, Rosanne —

Thank you for your question.

It is wonderful that your husband and child are entering the Church. Although, if the oldest was baptized in Catholic Church, she is already a Catholic. She simply needs to complete her Sacraments of Initiation: Communion and Confirmation.

We have no way of really answering your specific question accurately because we don't know the nuances of your circumstance.

For example:

• Were there any previous marriages in which the other spouse is still living?

These questions will be asked by the people in charge of your husband's RCIA program. As I said,
we can't possibly answer your question since we are not the ones conducting the interview and, more importantly, we are not a competent authority to see if there are any other impediments.

Finally, I would encourage you to travel the RCIA journey with your husband. From the sounds of things, you received a pretty poor catechesis. Clearly you married outside the Church without a dispensation from the bishop. Perhaps you were unaware of the necessity, but much more importantly, you clearly did know the faith you were leaving. Perhaps the people who were responsible for your religious education and evangelization share in the responsibility for not really doing a very good job.

At any rate, all that can be corrected. As I said, it would be a good idea for you to attend the RCIA process with your husband. I can guarantee that if you do so with an open heart, it can only make your marriage that much better, while restoring your relationship with the Lord and His Church.

John