My ex and I were young when we married, and we didn't take the marriage as seriously as we should have. We were both Catholic, but we married in front of a Justice of the Peace, not informing the Priest of our intentions. Now we are divorced, and I have met someone else that I wish to marry in the church. Am I required to go through the annulment process, even though my ex and I were married outside of the church, because we are both Catholic? Thank you for your help.
2006-12-21 14:34:28 · 13 answers · asked by pennypinchingbride 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Just a few details...I'm not pregnant, and we haven't had children at all. We were married civilly, not in the church.
2006-12-21 15:40:14 · update #1
No you have another option. Quote and link provided.
"If a person was either Catholic or married to a Catholic and they did not get married according to the canonical form of marriage (in front of a Catholic priest/deacon with two witnesses), and there was no Church permission to do that (called a dispensation from form), then this would be called a Lack of Form case and can be dealt with by proving that one of the parties was Catholic (with their baptismal record) and that they did not get married according to Catholic form (with the marriage license) and that they are now civilly divorced (with the divorce decree)."
Concerning annulment and the children that become bastards...that is not true. Quote and link provided.
"Marriages that are annulled under the Catholic Church are usually considered as ab initio, meaning that the marriage has been essentially invalid from the beginning. Some Catholics therefore worry that their children will be considered illegitimate if they get an annulment. However, Canon 1137 of the Code of Canon Law specifically affirms the legitimacy of children born in both recognized and putative marriages (those later declared null). Critics point to this as additional evidence that a Catholic annulment is similar to divorce — although civil laws that recognized both annulments and divorce regard the offspring of a putative marriage as legitimate."
2006-12-21 14:41:31 · answer #1 · answered by Poppet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but it should be a simple process.
The Catholic Church believes that God does not recognize civil divorces.
Jesus said, "Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." (Mark 10:9)
However there may be hope of a declaration of nullity.
The term "annulment" is a misnomer because the Church does not undo or erase a marriage bond.
Rather the Church issues a declaration of nullity when it discovers that the parties were not truly joined by God and hence a full spiritual sacramental marriage as understood by the Church was not present.
Then the parties are free to marry for the first time.
Approach the appropriate person your in your parish who has been trained in the process. If you encounter difficulties, you may go directly to the diocese.
Be prayerful, honest and patient. It takes a while.
With love in Christ.
2006-12-21 17:14:10 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I being a catholic myself know that if you are not married in the church then you don't have to get an annulment but why would you want to? An annulment means that the marriage never existed and if you had children then they become a bastards. However saying all of that if your marriage was never blessed in the church or before God an annulment is not required.
2006-12-21 14:55:07 · answer #3 · answered by liberty girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you married in front of a justice of the peace for your first marriage, the Catholic church will not require you to get an annulment to marry again.
2006-12-21 14:37:18 · answer #4 · answered by Fur and Fiction 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes if you want to marry in the church you definitely are required to have an annulment and your future spouse to if he was married before, no matter what religion he is.
2006-12-21 22:24:27 · answer #5 · answered by LC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i just heard that the rule had changed on this in my diocease so i assume it is in all.
all previous marriages -- whether married in the church or not -- have to be annulled now. this is a new rule. before it was only if it was a "catholic" marriage.
good luck on this
2006-12-21 14:36:47 · answer #6 · answered by Curious_One 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to be married in the Catholic church the second time, then yes. An anullment is necessary.
2006-12-21 14:38:06 · answer #7 · answered by Miami Lilly 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you were married in the catholic church the first time and you want to be married in the catholic church specifically - then yes, you need an annulment
2006-12-21 14:36:17 · answer #8 · answered by Sharp Marble 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, since you were not married in the church. So in the eyes of the church, you were not married. Anyways, ask your priest.
2006-12-21 14:38:05 · answer #9 · answered by flrt4fn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, only your divorce papers, and take a course the church offers before marriage.
2006-12-21 14:37:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋