Catholic re-married to non Catholic (receiving communion)

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I'm a non-denominational Christian woman. A divorced man (for biblical reasons.. his wife in multiple adultries.. caught in act.. ) wishes to marry me for many years. He hasn't yet gotten an annulment and not sure if he plans to. It's pressure from his son and mother. He said he would rather marry in the church, but it's not 100% important to him. I told him he cannot receive communion if he marries me. Isn't this true? I don't believe anyone can tell a believer he cannot receive communion, especially when it is a command from God himself, and my boyfriend is strong in his belief.

-- Helen Spryn (hsstardust@aol.com), May 20, 2004

Answers

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-- bumpy (bump@bump.com), May 20, 2004.

Don't "non-denominational" Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God? Don't you believe that "whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord"(1 Corinthians 11:27)? Don't you believe that "Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4)? Don't you believe that ignoring this teaching of God's Holy Church regarding the sacredness of marriage - when God has told that same Church "He who hears you hears Me; he who rejects you rejects Me" (Luke 10:16), and "whatsoever you bind upon earth is bound in heaven" (Matt 16:19) - would make a person "unworthy" to receive Christ into his heart after having rejected Christ's Word in this way? If you don't accept the fullness of Sacred Scripture, there is really no point in claiming to accept any of it.

Incidentally, if your boyfriend were truly "strong in his belief", he couldn't entertain for a moment the idea of marrying anywhere other than in God's Holy Church.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), May 20, 2004.


If neither you nor he is Catholic, or has any plans to become Catholic, I'm not sure that he would even have any standing to petition for a Catholic annulment.

-- Mark (aujus_1066@yahoo.com), May 20, 2004.

Hi Helen,

For Christians, sacramental divorce is never allowed, Biblically. This is in accord with Catholic teaching. Please see this thread: Is Divorce allowed in the NT?

He will need an annulment in order to marry you. God bless,

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 20, 2004.


Helen,

First. I assume he is Catholic?

Second. You must remember that it is Catholic doctrine that you must be in the state of grace before you receive communion (CCC 1395, 1415).

Third. The church teaches that it is a grave offence (a grave offence removes you from the state of grace) to live with someone other then your spouse and that the other person is still your spouse even after a civil divorce. The Church also teaches that divorce alone is immoral (CCC 2385- 2385)

This is why he can not receive communion if you get marred.

Please encourage him to start the annulment process. And then pray for him and I will include both of you in my prayers.

I hope this helps God bless’ Steven

-- Steven s (gschneiders@hotmail.com), May 20, 2004.



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