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Jennifer wrote:

Hi, guys —

I am currently in the inquiry stage of the RCIA program; converting from a non-denominational, conservative, fundamental, evangelical Protestant background to the Roman Catholic Church.

I feel strongly about my conversion and am very devout. My faith is the pulse beat of my life. A while ago, my mom had shown interest in joining the Church, but she was unable to join me because she was divorced from a valid marriage and later remarried.

  • Is there anything that can be done?

I love my mom. I know that she is sorry for the way things turned out in our family. I know that she wants to follow God (right now she is attending an Evangelical Lutheran church) and does good with what she now has.

  • Is there any way she can join the Church?
  • Or, barring that, can she can be sanctified and admitted to Heaven despite the divorce and remarriage and her inability to partake in the Sacraments and be affiliated with the Church?

I've been praying for her. If possible, I think she would still like to join the Church.

I suggested she at least try for an annulment, but she didn't want to because that would make me and my sisters illegitimate.

I don't know what to do or think but worry for her.

Jennifer
  { Can my mother join the Church, seeing she's divorced & remarried; she wants us to be legitimate? }

Mary Ann replied:

Jennifer —

Annulments don't make anyone illegitimate. Your mother's first marriage was legal, which makes her children legitimate. Moreover, all marriages are presumed valid, and a marriage found later to be invalid does not affect the legitimacy of the children. The Church does not consider legitimacy or illegitimacy anymore, though the state does.

As for the marriage, the question of its validity is judged by the Church. She may guess that it was valid, but that does not mean it was. If there was:

  • pressure
  • deception about something important
  • inability
  • fear, or
  • ignorance of marriage,

then there is grounds for nullity so encourage your mom to bring the question to her local priest.

In the meantime, while she is working on the annulment, she can begin RCIA or at least begin attending Mass and learning. We don't need to live in fear with God. He makes all things work together for the good if we trust Him.

Mary Ann

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