My pastor says that in order for my husband and I to validate our marriage, he would have to apply for an anullment through the catholic church, since he is divorced. (My husband is not catholic and neither was his first wife). Could somone please tell me what the process is for an anullment and why he would even need one since he is not catholic to begin with. I would really like to go through this but do not know what it involves (alot of paperwork?) Is this an expensive process?

-- Ima Catholic (Not@home.net), August 21, 2004

Answers

Whether he was/is Catholic is not really the issue. The question which needs to be addressed is whether his first marriage met the requirements for a valid sacramental marriage. Catholics are not the only ones who can be validly married. The Catholic Church "assumes" the validity of marriages between non-Catholics, until such time as it is necessary that a determination be made. When a previously married person, Catholic or non-Catholic, wants to marry in the Catholic Church, the Church has a solemn responsibility to ensure that the person is in fact eligible to marry, before agreeing to preside at the wedding. This includes verifying that the person is not already validly married. That is the purpose of the annulment process.

Your priest can help you get started, either directly or by referring you to the right diocesan office. A fair amount of paperwork has to be done intially. Then it is mainly a matter of waiting while the tribunal carries out its investigation. There is some expense involved. Like any legal matter, how much time and expense is involved depends on how complex the case is, and how much work is necessary to establish the facts.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), August 25, 2004.

It's ridiculous. He's not even Catholic. The Catholic church doesn't regard a marriage as valid if it's not in their church, so why bother with the annulment? It's a complete waste of time.

-- Anon (anon@none.com), September 10, 2004.

Not so. The Catholic Church assumes that marriages between non-Catholics ARE valid until there is specific reason to believe otherwise. The annulment process determines whether there is any reason to believe otherwise.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), September 11, 2004.

Anon,

What you need to understand is that every action that each of us chooses to take in life will affect other people. It's not just the big splashy acts of heroism or hedonism. Even the most mundane task, if it involves a responsible choice done for the right purpose, will affect others in good way and directly or indirectly will help others get to heaven.

When a person chooses to do what they know is right, or chooses to explore further so that they can at least attempt to discern what is right, there is something good about their act. A corollary to their choice to do the right is their assent to doing God's will. Similarly, when a person turns away from doing what they know is right, or attempts to induce others from doing what is right, that person is assenting to what Satan wants for themself and those around them (sin is infectious).

I have read your recent posts regarding what you think is the uselessness of following the annulment process in threads started by people who are trying to discern what God wants from them. Given my comments here, I don't think you are assenting to really helping anyone grow closer to God in your posts. On the contrary, you are espousing what will hurt them more than anything else.

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), September 11, 2004.

I would like to differentiate to other opinions in this thread. If 'Im a Catholic' lady is going to get married to her husband-to- be. He is not catholic so isn't his first wife. Their first marriage finished and they are already divorced. is there a divorce papers ? You need to present this to back your case. So under the civil law they both are legal to re-marry. If the husband-to-be wants to marry the 'Im a Catholic' lady and wants to become a catholic himself then there is no hindrance in this marriage. As under the church he is not bound by the church marriage sacrament and he is eligible candidate for the marriage under the civil law and church law.

The anullment through the catholic church is only applied if the couple is catholic and they want to undo their marriage with the church approval, providing they got the right reason(s) specified by the Church. I think you are better to consult with the church authority at the marriage tribunals at diocese.

Good luck !

-- Peter (muongkhau@yahoo.com), September 20, 2004.

That is incorrect. ANY former marriage must be submitted to the marriage tribunal for determination of validity before marriage in the Catholic Church is allowed. What is or is not allowed under civil law is completely irrelevant. The Church tries not to conflict with civil law when that is possible, which is why the Church requires civil divorce before initiating the anulment process. But the Church does not recognize such divorce as valid. Annulment does not change anything. It is simply an investigation to determine what is or is not already valid. And no-one can enter into a marriage in the Catholic Church while the status of a former marriage has not been determined.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), September 20, 2004.