Marian,

When we make our sacred vow for better or worse, we promise God, the community, and our spouse an unconditional love that is the essence of spousal love. Next to God, the spouse becomes the primary object of our love for the remainder of this earthly life, and ultimately it is their salvation which we, as spouse, are responsible for assisting with.

All of this is true if the marriage is valid.

Therefore, the alternative option is to seek an annulment to discover if yours is truly valid.

Since the nature of marriage includes indissolubility, and a marriage is presumed valid unless proven otherwise, an annulment would allow you to recognize the freedom you have in dating other(s) and perhaps marrying some day.

Chances are you probably already know this.

So to answer your question directly, civil divorce in itself, is no reason to abstain from receiving Holy Communion; especially when you are not at fault. Getting (re)married without an annulment is a reason to abstain, for that would place yourself in a situation of perpetual adultery.

The question remaining is whether starting a romantic friendship with another, without an annulment, is a just reason for abstaining from Communion.

• It would it be a sacrilege to receive Jesus in Communion while committing adultery in one's heart, but is your friendship with this man more platonic than that?

Talk to your pastor about your situation and then act in accordance with what you understand to be the will of God, as expressed through His Body, the Catholic Church.

Continue to pray and seek what is right.

Peace,

Paul