I am a 41 yr old male. I was raised as Baptist. I was married in a Baptist church in 1983 to high school sweetheart. We were too young and divorced within 2 years. Life goes on and I have been married (by a justice of the peace) to a wonderful Catholic woman for 10 1/2 years now. She has not been able to take communion since we married since the church does not recognize our marriage. I have been attending Catholic services with her for over 12 years but have not joined the church. We live in Texas and my previous marriage was in N. Carolina. I am in the military. I very much want to have my previous marriage annulled or erased or invalidated or whatever the term so that I can "re-marry" my current wife in the church so that she will be able to once again be on good standing with the church. I have consulted military chaplains who have told me I have to go thru civilian diocese and I have spoken with civilian priests who tell me I should go through the military diocese since I am a soldier. I don't understand what I need to do but what I do know that the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful partner who has given me a beautiful family and she has sacrificed so much for me. PLEASE, somebody help me with this so that this can me made proper. Thank you for any assistance.

Randy Boyette

-- Randy Boyette (rednexican1736@aol.com), January 02, 2005

Answers

Randy, may God bless you for your desire to help your wife to be in right standing with the Church. I can only think to point you in the direction of your priest and diocesan marriage tribunal. The other option if an annulment is not granted, would be to live celibately as brother and sister. This way she would be able to receive the sacraments, if she is free from mortal sin. God bless & I hope someone else can offer you more assistance.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com"), January 02, 2005.