I am a divorced Catholic with an annulment. I want to marry a divorced Catholic who was married in the Methodist Church. Does his marriage need to be annuled? Would it be the same steps I had to take?

-- kc (kcolgan@sizeler.com), November 06, 2003

Answers

Yes, his previous marriage would have to be examined by the marriage tribunal, and a fair determination made regarding its validity. Should the trubunal declare his previous marriage invalid, he will be free to marry you. If not, he won't.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), November 06, 2003.

KC,

Yes, your fiancee's previous marriage would have to be found null. You state that his previous marriage was in a Methodist Church. All Catholics are required by Canon Law to be married in the Church. To be validly married outside the Church he would have needed a "dispensation from canonical form." If that dispensation was not obtained that his marriage would be considered null.

If this is the case it is a much simpler process. It is what is referred to as a "documentary process." Basically he would need to approach the local Diocesan Tribunal and provide a copy of his Catholic baptismal certificate and his marriage license showing that was married in the Methodist Church. The diocese will check their records to see if a dispensation was granted. If not then the marriage will be declared null.

This is a rather simple and short process.

Hope that's helpful.

-- Fr. Mike Skrocki, JCL (abounamike@aol.com), November 08, 2003.