I was married 10 years ago in the catholic church. However, at the time, my husband was of no faith. He didn't attend church, and wasn't even sure if he believed in God. But we met with my parish priest and were allowed to marry in the catholic church. During our marriage, he went through RCIA and became a catholic, but never was a fully practicing member. Had I not pushed him to go to church with me, he probably wouldn't have gone. We were divorced two years ago. Neither of us has sought an annullment yet. After all this time, I'm feeling the need to set this right with my church; however, knowing that he had no faith when we married, do we still need to seek a decree of nullity? FYI, I have been a practicing catholic all of my life, even since my divorce.

-- Lynn (wiggy593@home.com), September 30, 2001

Answers

Jmj

Hello, Lynn.
I think that it would be good for you to meet with your pastor as soon as possible to discuss this -- for your peace of mind.

I believe, but am not 100% certain, that it will be necessary for you to go through the nullity process. The Church assumes, until the opposite has been proved, that a marriage is valid. A key question is whether or not valid consent was given on the day of the marriage.

You said that your husband was "of no faith" when you married, but you didn't say whether or not he had been baptized some years before that. The fact that he was unbaptized (if true) may play a part in the marriage tribunal's consideration. But on the other hand, your husband's subsequent conversion (and baptism?) may play a part too.

If your husband was not baptized before your wedding, then you had what is called a "natural marriage" -- not a sacramental one -- at the beginning. If he was later baptized (after the RCIA process), then I think [though I am not certain] that the Church would have wanted the both of you to renew your marital consent, which would have then made your marriage a sacramental one (with all the graces attendant upon it). If there never was a renewal of consent, that may be another important factor in the tribunal's deliberations.

Sorry that I could not give you much good and clear information. I mainly tried to present various issues for you to think about and to bring up in the coming conversation with your pastor.

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 30, 2001.