If a Protestant couple converts to Catholicism, does the Church consider this to be a "true marriage"?

Question

Or would they have to be re-married in the Catholic church?

When answering, please tell me where you got your information. Thanks!

Answer 1

--is Catholic--

Here is your answer: The Catholic Church would consider the marriage of Protestants to be sacramental, that is if it was a valid marriage. There are different rules involved in one of the parties to marriage was baptized Catholic (then they have to follow cannon law). But since two Protestants were involved, then the marriage will be considered valid in the eyes of the Church, unless proven otherwise.

If it is wished, the marriage can be convalidated (blessed), but this would not be considered a 2nd marriage or a re-marrying. Personaly I would suggest having the convalidization.

Sources
Canon Law
http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/canon/index.html


Also indirectly a Catholic Canon Lawyer answers a related question as such


Q: Two of my friends are taking instructions to come into the Church. They are getting conflicting opinions as to whether they will need to "convalidate" their marriage after they become Catholic. Both of them are baptized Protestants, and both were previously married to other Protestants before getting divorces and marrying each other. They have applied for annulments of their earlier marriages. Assuming both annulment petitions are granted, will they still need to have their marriage to each other blessed in the Church?



A: I’m not surprised your friends are getting conflicting opinions on this question, because even many pastors, let alone other parish staffers, don’t understand Church law on this point. The confusion arises because the rules in these cases seem to differ for parties who are Catholic from those which apply to parties who are not.

In brief, if the facts are as you describe them, your friends will not need to have their marriage to each other convalidated by Church authorities upon becoming Catholic. As soon as both annulment petitions are formally granted (assuming this is done and assuming there were no other unusual factors present—your letter suggests none), your friends’ marriage to each other will automatically be recognized by the Church and will be presumed to be both valid and sacramental.

Here’s why: At the time your friends married each other, the only canonical obstacle to their wedding was ligamen, the fact of their prior marriage bonds (canon 1085). But if annulments are declared for both prior marriages, that means that, at the time of their marriage to each other, your friends were canonically free to contract marriage, and the manner in which they chose to marry would have been lawful for them at the time. Thus, their second marriage could be recognized without any further qualifications.

How would this question differ for Catholics, thus giving rise to the confusion? Well, if two Catholics, previously married to others and subsequently divorced, sought to marry in the Church, virtually any priest would have told them "No way, not without an annulment" (canon 1085 again). Unfortunately, such Catholics not infrequently then turn to civil magistrates for their wedding. That kind of wedding ceremony would be a violation of the requirement of canonical form which binds most Catholics (canons 1108 and 1117), meaning that, without an annulment followed by "convalidation" (canon 1160), such a second marriage would not be recognized in the Church.

—Edward Peters

Answer 2

That should not be a problem because Protestant and Catholicism are under the same God and have the same bible.

Answer 3

in the eyes of the state, they are legally married.... in the eyes of the lord, they are (after all, they also swear to love each other using the holy bible as a witness to their marriage)... but church wedding only binds them more (as god as their witness). if they want it to be more spiritual in nature, so be it, be married in a church... thats their prerogative. but if they do just so because of notions, should i say more?

Answer 4

I think it depends on which denomination the couple used to be, it makes a big difference if they are Episcopalian for example.

Answer 5

you only have to get maried once

Answer 6

techinally, they would have to be remarried

Answer 7

As long as they tithe, they're probably welcome.