I just came back to the Catholic Church after 25 years. I was married the 1st time in a Baptist Church to a non-catholic. Divorced 12 years later. I then remarried in a hotel to a non-catholic and unfortunately just went through another divorce. Since I am no longer married and was never married in the eyes of the Catholic Church can I receive communion now without having to 'annul' my marriages and go through paperwork? My deacon told me about a year ago that I would have been able to receive communion in between my marriages but once I remarried I had to go through the annulment process and have my 2nd marriage blessed in the Church to do so. Now what is my status?

-- Felicia Cinnamon (felicia.cinnamon@usa.xerox.com), September 23, 2002

Answers

Jmj

Hello, Felicia.
Welcome home! It is wonderful that you have returned to the Church, an experience that I had after 15 years of inactivity.

Either the deacon misinformed you, or you misunderstood him. Now that you are "no longer married" (and perhaps never really married), you are indeed free to return to Holy Communion, as soon as you have made a good confession. (If you need help returning to the sacrament of Penance, we can help you.)

On the subject of the "nullity" of your previous "marriages" ...
(1) If you intend never to get married, you don't need to do anything at all about those past "unions."
(2) If you believe that you will want to be married some day, then your diocesan tribunal will have to consider the facts about your two previous experiences. [If you want more detailed information on that subject, please say so, and mention whether (and when, if applicable) you ever formally declared that you were no longer a Catholic.]

God bless you with many happy years re-learning the Faith and enjoying God's future blessings.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 23, 2002.

Felicia,

I believe the Deacon was describing your situation while you were still married to the second husband, correct? If so, then his advice was appropriate at the time. Now that you are divorced again, then John's advice is accurate, as usual.

-- Glenn (glenn@nospam.com), September 24, 2002.

Thanks for mentioning that, Glenn.
Now that I have re-read Felicia's words, I see that you are right about the deacon and the accuracy of what he told her.
JFG
PS: Thanks also for that compliment, but I didn't quite deserve it, since I slipped this time by not reading carefully enough!

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 24, 2002.