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Wedding to divorced catholic man

Foster208
New User

Post #1 of 3 (2966 views)

Wedding to divorced catholic man

My 25 year old niece has moved to New York to be with her finance. He is a divorced catholic man who was previously married to a catholic woman. My niece is Baptist. He tells my niece that he cannot marry her until he obtains an annulment and if they marry outside the Catholic church, his parents will not come to the wedding.

They have been "engaged" for almost two years and the man concerned has done nothing to obtain an annulment.

Can you please clarify the catholic position on remarriage as I have explained, given the fact that his family is very devout in their religion? Thank you.

Fran in North Carolina

Deacon Bob
INDEPENDANT CATHOLIC DEACON

Post #2 of 3 (2958 views)

Re: [Foster208] Wedding to divorced catholic man [In reply to]

The Roman Catholic Church will require an annulment before they would permit a second marriage. The annulment process can take 1 to 2 years. Once the annulment is applied for an investigation is conducted, which includes contacting the former spouse and witnesses, the process can be expediated or delayed depending on the cooperation of those parties. Once the annulment is granted pre cana counseling will be required before the wedding could take place. I am concerned that they have been engaged for so long and he has not started the process. While what he is saying about the Catholic Churches requirements is true his delay in starting the process is a warning sign to me. God Bless and I wish your family the best.
Deacon Bob Tousey
Independant catholic Deacon

Frieda Arpoika
CATHOLIC LAY PASTORAL MINISTER

Post #3 of 3 (2950 views)

Re: [Foster208] Wedding to divorced catholic man [In reply to]

I want to affirm what Deacon Bob is telling you. True, the Catholic Church does require an annulment. However if he after two years he has not even started the process, he may be using this as an excuse. A commited Catholic who wants to fully practice the faith would initiate the process. If however he says he does it only for his parents, then my feeling is that he may not be ready to do what marriage requires: to give priority in one's life to spouse (and children), not to oneself or parents. The question seems to be whether he is ready for a marriage commitment.
Frieda Arpoika
Catholic Lay Pastoral Minister
St. Daniel Catholic Community