[Renee]

I am a non-catholic divorced woman and my boyfriend is catholic and divorced.We are from Pretoria South Africa.His ex-wife is a catholic. We are both divorced from our former spouses because of our extra-marital affair.My boyfriend wants to have his marriage annulled in order to remarry in the Church.I wish to convert to Catholicism.Can we get married in a court of law or in another church while the annulment proceedings are underway or will that affect his chances of getting an annulment? Should his ex-wife also apply for an annulment as well? Is he permitted to partake in Holy Communion before the annulment is finalised?

[RevFrye]

Renee:

I am assuming you are planning to marry in the U.S.

An annulment is not required to get married again. However, the annulment will probably be required by the Catholic Church if you are planning to marry in the Church. Many people get married again in a civil ceremony (or non-catholic religious ceremony) and then seek the annulment and subsequent "recognition" of the marriage in the Catholic Church.

I suggest setting up a meeting with your local parish priest to discuss the issues of communion, marriage and annulment, and conversion questions.

[RevSusanna]

The Catholic Church will require that you both obtain an annulment before marrying in a Catholic Church. Here in the U.S. I have perform many services for divorced Catholics waiting upon their annulment proceedings....for the entire process takes time.

I agree with Reverend Frye in that you should call your local Catholic pastor to discuss these issues.

In the back of my book, Joining Hands and Hearts, is a complete ceremony I did for a divorced Catholic couple (whose spouses were unfaithful to them) in an Episcopal Church. I have also done many ceremonies for waiting Catholics in non-religious places.

Do the work.