Can I marry a non-Catholic divorced man in the Catholic Church?

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My boyfriend was married in 1998 in a Baptist church. He has never been baptized. The day of his second anniversary, his ex-wife filed for a divorce. They were legally divorced in 2001, with no children. I am a catholic, baptized and confirmed in the catholic church. We were wondering if we could get married in a catholic church and if so how. Do we need to get his marriage annulled and how do we go about doing that?

just curious,

Amie

-- Amie Graugnard (agraug1@lsu.edu), June 14, 2003

Answers

Response to Can I marry a non-catholic divorced man in the catholic church?

You need to seek an annulment for any previous marriage where the spouse/former spouse (depending on the result of the annulment investigation) is still living. The annulment proceding itself should be relatively quick and simple given his lack of baptism. However, you cannot be married in the Catholic Church until he is baptized; and the Catholic Church, unlike some Protestant churches, doesn't just baptize anyone who walks in the door. He will have to take instructions in the faith before he can be baptized INTO the Catholic Church, which is the only way the Catholic Church baptizes anyone. At the time of his baptism he would also receive his first Holy Communion, and his Confirmation, and would then be eligible for the sacrament of matrimony.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), June 14, 2003.

Response to Can I marry a non-catholic divorced man in the catholic church?

Paul - What is the Canon Law that backs up the "most be a baptized Catholic to be married in the Church?" As far as I know a non- Catholic can get married in the Church, but with permission. I just thought that one of the spouces had to be an active Catholic.

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), June 14, 2003.

Response to Can I marry a non-catholic divorced man in the catholic church?

Hi Scott,

You are right of course. I didn't mean to imply that unbaptized persons can never marry in the Church. Catholics can of course marry Jews, Muslims, etc., who are not baptized. Even though Canon law does make validity contingent upon both parties being baptized (Canon 1086), it also allows for the local bishop to dispense from this requirement for just and reasonable cause. So this couple could marry by dispensation, if he intends to remain a Baptist. What I was trying to say, but said poorly, is that if they wanted to be married as Catholics, baptism would be required first, and could not be given without adequate preparation. But in rereading the original question, I guess that is not their situation after all.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), June 15, 2003.


dear Amie, I was in the same situation until last week when finally it was all over. Well my boyfriend was very young 20 and married, this was a cival ceremony. The marriage did last they were together just over a year. My boyfriend was never baptised in any religion at all. What we did was we went to the Tribunal, they decided that the best thing would be to get a dispensation. Depending on the situation, they decided that they did not have to write to Rome. With in 3 months we received a letter stating that the marriage was declared null and he can now marry in the Catholic church. The difference though is that he decided to become a catholic and has been taking lessons and will be baptised, communion and confirmation by the end of the year. Do now force your partner to take the lessons let him decide on his own it feels so much better. We been together for 3.5 years and he made the decision 8months ago. Good luck i hope you make the decision to do the right thing and wait a little while until all is sorted out with the Tribunal it should not take too long God Bless you

-- Beth (goodluck08062000@hotmail.com), June 16, 2003.

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