My partner was brought up in the Catholic faith and was leter married to another man in a Civil ceremony. He then left her, and their children for another woman. Some year later I met my partner and after some years together have decided to get married.

I have never been married, and was brought up in a different Christian denomination.

Is it still possible for my partner and I to marry in her Catholic Church ?

-- David Elir Evans (david@alliedconstructionmaterials.co.uk), June 15, 2003

Answers

Jmj
Hello, David.

The correct answer to your question is: "Yes, if she is not married to the man who left her."

You said that she was raised Catholic, but was "married" in a "civil ceremony." A key question is whether or not she had formally left the Church when that ceremony took place.

----- If she had not left Catholicism, then she invalidly and unsuccessfully attempted marriage on that occasion, because Catholic marriage law would have required her to marry in Church. In that case, she would soon be free to marry you.
----- But if she had temporarily, but formally, left Catholicism and then got married, it is possible that she is still married. [The fact that she is divorced is not relevant, because the Church knows that a valid marriage normally can be ended only by the death of one of the spouses.] A Church court, known as a tribunal, would have to determine whether or not she entered into a valid marriage with the man who later left her. If so, she would not be free to marry you.

Regardless of the situation (whether she left the Church or not), she needs to make an appointment ASAP with her pastor, to start the tribunal process in motion. (It could be brief or lengthy, depending on the circumstances.)

God bless you.
John
PS: You used an unusual term in your message three times: "my partner." Does this mean that you and the woman in question are co-owners of a business?

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@Hotmail.com), June 15, 2003.