Hi, Paul —

Thanks for the question.

The first place to start is for you and the young lady to visit her parish priest. You will need an annulment in order for her to marry you. Although it's a bit more difficult, annulments can be obtained without the cooperation of both parties. Again, her priest will know what to do or he will be able to find out the appropriate next steps.

I would also, for your own sake, encourage you to explore the Catholic Church once again. As you know, Scripture talks about people being unequally yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:11-18) I'd be willing to bet, you really don't understand what the Church teaches, or you would not have left it.

I say that, speaking from experience. I too left the Church to become a Pentecostal Minister so I speak as someone who is very familiar with the Assembly of God denomination. After further study of the Bible and the Early Church, I began to realize that there was something missing so I took another look at what the Church really taught.

I was quite surprised, pleasantly surprised, to find out that the Church believed in salvation by grace through faith. The Catholic Church has a Charismatic Spirit-filled Community known as the Charismatic Renewal. Once I really understood what the Sacraments were all about, then I had to leave the pulpit and return home.

You may or may not find the same to be true but I challenge you to do some real exploring. If the Holy Spirit has brought a Catholic Christian woman into your life, this may be His gentle way of starting you on a journey back home.

Under His Mercy,

John DiMascio