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Do we both need an annulment to be married in the Catholic church?

warmmorningsun
New User

Post #1 of 3 (2467 views)

Do we both need an annulment to be married in the Catholic church?

My fiance and I have both been married and are both divorced, both of us are baptized catholic and would like to marry in the Catholic Church. He was married by a Justice of the Peace, but I am unsure of his ex-spouse's religion. (does that matter?) I was married to a non-Catholic in a brief ceremony in a nondenomination church by a Baptist minister.

1. Are either of us required to get an annulment to be married in the Catholic Church?

2. How long does that generally take considering our individual specifics if we are required?

3. Does the Catholic Church still require participation in precana prior to marriage in the church?

4. In the event we are required to get an annulment, is it required that our ex-spouses be contacted? I currently have a restraining order for my daughter and I against my ex-spouse and my fiance does not know where his ex-spouse is.

(This post was edited by the_admin on Dec 9, 2005, 8:11 AM)

Frieda Arpoika
CATHOLIC LAY PASTORAL MINISTER

Post #2 of 3 (2462 views)

Re: [warmmorningsun] Do we both need an annulment to be married in the Catholic church? [In reply to]

If you are both baptized Catholics, and neither one of you married in a Catholic Church or with the ok given by a parish priest to marry in an non-Catholic Church -- then by Catholic canon law your first marriages are considered invalid by "lack of form". That is, you did not follow "Catholic form" as required from a baptized Catholic. You can both apply at your parish for a "Lack of Form Declaration of Nullity" for your first marriages. If all is in order, that only takes about a month or two. It is not a full-fledged annulment application.

Yes, you still will need to take a Pre-Cana session, but your parish probably will recommend one that is designed for couples entering a second marriage. These are very helpful to couples. They help you deal with issues up front rather than after you are married. It may help you prevent another painful breakup. Research shows that couples taking the pre-cana seminars have a better rate of successful marriages. And not just that, couples in my parish told that they really were special and that they were glad they went.
Frieda Arpoika
Catholic Lay Pastoral Minister
St. Daniel Catholic Community

startingover
MARRIAGE PREPARATION ADVISORS

Post #3 of 3 (2456 views)

Re: [warmmorningsun] Do we both need an annulment to be married in the Catholic church? [In reply to]

To Frieda's excellent reply, we would add that marriage readiness programs for couples approaching remarriage are usually called Cana II or Engagement Encounter. Either (or both) of these programs are valuable in preparing couples for remarriage. Before you make that second trip up the aisle, please be sure you and your fiance have thoroughly discussed your future. Who will handle the checkbook? How will you deal with in-laws or discipline stepchildren? How will you celebrate holidays? Where will you attend church? There are dozens of questions that deserve careful consideration before marriage.

"Love Will Keep Us Together" is only a song title. Real life requires a strong faith in each other and in a God who loves you and is concerned about every detail of your lives. May He bless and guide you.
Kay and Dennis Flowers
Authors of
Catholic Annulment, Spiritual Healing