I was married in the Catholic Church and have received a cival divorce and an annulment from the Catholic Church. I am currently engage to someone who was raised Catholic (baptized, communinion and confirmed). He was also previously married, however was not married in the Catholic Church. He was married in a Methodist Church and currently attends that church. We have discussed the importance to me of continuing my Catholic beliefs and he has agreed to reaffirm his faith and participate. Does he need to seek any sort of annulment from the Catholic church given the fact he did not receive any prior dispensation for his first marriage.

-- Diane Mullan (demullan@msn.com), January 29, 2002

Answers

Diane,

I think your future husband's marriage would be considered a non- sacramental marriage. If marriage takes place outside the Catholic church it is not recognized by the church. But since he is a Catholic he will need to confess that he got married outside the church and that he left the church. He must consider his falling away to be the wrong choice if he wants to return.

I am basing this on a similar situation that my sister was in but I didn't go in-depth when I investigated. I gave you a likely answer but it may be wrong. Make an appointment with your priest. He'd love to speak with you both.

-- Mike H (michael.hitzelberger@vscc.cc.tn.us), January 29, 2002.

Hi Diane,

The question revolves around did he leave the Catholic Faith and become a Methodist? It would be best if he discussed the details of this with your pastor. It could be a simple matter of canonical Form or it could be much more involved.

-- Br. Rich SFO (repsfo@prodigy.net), January 31, 2002.