Hi. I am a Presbyterian and I was married in a Presbyterian Church. I was later legally divorced due to a drug/alcohol addiction and mental illness I didn't know my ex-wife had at the time of marriage. She was actively using at the time and she would be the first to admit it -- she will sign anything required to prove it.

I want to marry a Catholic woman I love very much. We intend to bring our children up in her faith and be a Catholic family. However, I am concerned the Catholic Church will not marry us due to my divorce.

Does the group reading this know if there are grounds for annulment here? And, if so, is it the type that can take years or is it something we can expect to happen relatively quickly?

Thanks!

-- Scott Curran (smcurran@yahoo.com), March 12, 2005

Answers

Scott,

From what you say about your former wife, it appears you have very good grounds for Nullity. Get to your priest and begin the process. The length of time it will take will depend on the work load of the Tribunal. But then again, if love is true then the wait will be well worth it; and not only the wait for the Declaration of Nullity so yo can marry validly and licitly in the Church, but the wait for other aspects of marriage (if you know what I mean). I hope it is not too late for that, but please do not answer.

Good luck, and God Bless.

-- Fr. Paul (pjdoucet@hotmail.com), March 12, 2005.