Hello-

I am a divorced, non-catholic man. I am not an atheist- I have attended catholic mass, and I do believe in God, but I have never been baptized or confirmed. My previous marriage was performed by a justice of the peace, not in a church. I am currently dating a catholic woman to whom I would like to propose marriage. She would like us to be married in a catholic church, and I would like that as well. To do so, do I need to have my previous marriage annulled, even though I am not catholic and it did not take place in a catholic (or any other) church? Also, do I need to become catholic for us to be married in a catholic church? And if so, how do I go about doing so?

Seeking guidance- please help!!!

Thanks in advance, Joe Wilt joe.wilt@earthlink.net

-- Joe Wilt (joe.wilt@earthlink.net), October 28, 2002

Answers

Response to Divorced non-catholic man wants to marry catholic woman

Hello, Joe.
Thanks for visiting with your good questions.

1. "To [be married in a Catholic church], do I need to have my previous marriage annulled, even though I am not catholic and it did not take place in a catholic (or any other) church?"
Well, your terminology isn't quite precise but the idea is there. You do need to receive assurance from the Catholic Church that your prior "union" was actually null and void. Right now, the presumption is that you were involved in a valid, "natural" (non-sacramental) marriage. The Church cannot make it null, but can determine if it was null on the wedding day. Only if/when you have a declaration of nullity in hand can your Catholic friend validly marry you.

2. "Also, do I need to become catholic for us to be married in a catholic church?"
No, it is not required, though your friend would need a special permission from her bishop to enter into a "mixed marriage."

"And if so, how do I go about doing so?"
It is not required that you convert, and you should not pretend to do so if you do not believe in Christianity. But if you do receive the grace from God to have faith in what the Church teaches, you certainly must become a convert. Your friend's pastor can help you to join in a learning process known as RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) that will prepare you to be baptized.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), October 28, 2002.

Response to Divorced non-catholic man wants to marry catholic woman

A man should leave his father and mother,and be FOREVER united to his wife.The TWO shall become ONE-no longer TWO,but ONE!And NO MAN MAY DIVORCE WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER.ANYONE WHO DIVORCES HIS WIFE,EXCEPT FOR FORNICATION,AND MARRIES ANOTHER,COMMITS ADULTERY!! >>>MATTHEW 19:5,9......BE CAREFUL FOR THIS MAY KEEP U OUT OF HEAVEN .....BE VERY CAREFUL ...

-- r.r. (wrbjk@aol.com), November 02, 2002.