I want to get married in the catholic church, my fiance was married before and divorced. we are both catholic-but hes not a practicing catholic. Can we marry in the church if he was divorced?

-- Leisha osullivan (leisha.osullivan@abc-amega.com), July 14, 2004

Answers

It depends on whether his first marriage was a valid marriage. If it was, then his divorce didn't change anything, he is still married, and is therefore not eligible to marry you. If his first marriage was invalid for some reason (there are a number of possible reasons why this might be so) then he is eligible to marry you in the Church. This can be determined only by a marriage tribunal. Talk to your priest about how to submit his previous marriage to the tribunal for determination of validity.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 14, 2004.

He can re-marry on another condition. Remember the passage in the Bible where Jesus mentions "EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF FORNICATION". That means if his previous wife cheated no him, he can re-marry. HURRAY!!!

But hey, why would you want to marry a non-practicing Christian to begin with? Rather give it some more time. Be weary please.

-- Mark (thisis@simple.net), July 15, 2004.

If his previous wife committed adultery, he can seek annulment, which may or may not be granted. But he cannot simply remarry. Jesus said we are to live our lives by the teaching of His Church, which is bound in heaven, not by our own simplistic interpretations of selected Bible passages.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 15, 2004.

Mark, please read this on why you're misinterpreting the passage about "exceptions" for divorce.

Is Divorce allowed in the NT?

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), July 15, 2004.