I have never been baptized and was married by a Justice of the Peace, then received an annulment of that marriage from the State of Colorado. I am currently in the process of converting to Catholicism and was told that previous marriage would need to be annuled. The church does not recognize civil unions to be valid, thus the question, why the need for the annulment?

-- Jennifer Radcliff (radcliffje@hotmail.com), November 15, 2001

Answers

I'm sure a few other folks will add their two cents here, and better than I can, but the Church does recognize civil marriages between two non-Catholics. However, since you received a civil annulment, I don't know what else the Church could want....perhaps you have to go through the Church annulment process.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), November 15, 2001.

You are right, Christina, when you tell Jennifer, "the Church does recognize civil marriages between two non-Catholics."
Jennifer had written, "The church does not recognize civil unions to be valid ..." But she did not realize that the non-recognition only applies when it is one or two Catholics who attempt marriage in a civil union. That kind of union is invalid.

Jennifer, I heartily welcome you to the family of the Catholic Church. You will be even purer than Ivory Soap (99.44%) on the day you are baptized -- ready to go straight into heaven as St. Jennifer.
A marriage between unbaptized people can be valid, so the Church needs to determine if such was the case in your life. All I can do is urge you to be patient and understanding, praying for the help of the Holy Spirit.

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 15, 2001.

For all of you from previous forums! I received my annullment! The wait paid off!!! Thank u God! We are getting married at St. Patricks church.. I even put off the wedding until we were going to hear from the church..!!

-- (amb_34@yahoo.com), November 24, 2001.

what is the "wait" of the annullment?

-- leann (landenno@yahoo.com), November 19, 2002.

Leann,

In case you asked a serious question, the annullment process can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. So Amb_34 was talking about "waiting" for this process to complete.

-- Glenn (glenn@nospam.com), November 20, 2002.