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Catholic Wedding Problem

psyche
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Post #1 of 2 (3941 views)

Catholic Wedding Problem

Hello Everyone. This is my problem. I am a Baptist marrying a Catholic. This is a second marriage for each of us & we want to marry at the Catholic Church. The problem is my ex-husband's ex-wife. The Monsignor says he has to know what religion she was & whether or not she was baptised at the time of their marriage. To me this is so ridiculous. Why would a marriage that doesn't really concern me cause a delay in my marriage now. He says that before we can proceed he has to know these things. I have been divorced from my ex-husband for almost 20 years, with no contact with him whatsoever; he was married to his ex-wife way before that & I know absolutely nothing about her. Why should this matter to my future wedding? I hope someone can explain this to me because I sure don't understand it.

However, I did end up tracking down her parents who have provided the above information. Now we're waiting to hear from Monsignor on what happens next. Since its a holiday & we won't be hearing from him till sometime late next week I was hoping someone could give me a heads up.

My fiance' has his paperwork all in order & he is free to marry in the Church, since he was married by a JOP the first time. I am a baptised Baptist (now but not then), my ex was not & we were married by a JOP. My ex's first wife was a baptised Catholic at the time of their marriage but they were also married by a JOP.

Can anyone tell me what will happen next? Since they were married by a JOP does that make us now free to marry in the Church? Or is an annulment in order?

Would appreciate any answers anyone can give me to any of the above.

Thank You

Deacon Bob
INDEPENDANT CATHOLIC DEACON

Post #2 of 2 (3603 views)

Re: [psyche] Catholic Wedding Problem [In reply to]

Wow ---- what a question. It is one I would normally do some research on but I just moved this weekend and my books are packed away. Based on what I can see I do not think an annulment would be necessary but the final word will come from the Priest officiating the wedding or his Bishop. In that the prior marriages on your side (yours and your ex's) were all by a JOP I do not see how they would be recognized by the church as valid marriages. If your ex's first marriage was a religious ceremony I could understand the reason for the question, but in that it was a civil ceremony I am not sure why it was asked. I wish I could provide more insight, but this one has me a little baffled too. Good luck and God Bless.
Deacon Bob Tousey
Independant catholic Deacon