Divorcee remarrying in Catholic church?

zaksmum

My friend's daughter is divorced and has just got engaged to her boyfriend. He's Catholic and wants to marry in church. My friend is worried that someone told her a divorcee could not remarry in a Catholic church as it does not recognise divorce.

Her first marriage was not in a Catholic church, and she's not Catholic herself but is prepared to follow the Catholic religion.

Does anyone know the ruling of the church on this please?

Tulip09

My parents got married in a catholic church (dad was catholic/mum wasnt they had to get special permission at the time). Fast forward 28 years and they divorce. Dad decides to remarry a catholic woman and returns to church. Mum suddenly recieves papers to sign saying her marriage wasnt legal in the 'eyes of god etc' she is devestated but signs anyway as she had kids and didnt want the 'fight' from the church etc. Dad is then free to marry in the catholic church as his first marriage wasnt legal in the churches eyes! Needless to say no family member went or supported him.

Teenie_D

I was raised a catholic and my dh was divorced. We didn't even attempt to try and get married in a church because I knew what their view on it would be and I also felt a bit hypocrytical as I never even attended mass

Wow tulip can't believe they would see it like that:eek: your poor Mum.

zaksmum

Tulip09 wrote: »

My parents got married in a catholic church (dad was catholic/mum wasnt they had to get special permission at the time). Fast forward 28 years and they divorce. Dad decides to remarry a catholic woman and returns to church. Mum suddenly recieves papers to sign saying her marriage wasnt legal in the 'eyes of god etc' she is devestated but signs anyway as she had kids and didnt want the 'fight' from the church etc. Dad is then free to marry in the catholic church as his first marriage wasnt legal in the churches eyes! Needless to say no family member went or supported him.

So are you saying the first marriage would not be recognised by the Catholic church as it wasn't in a Catholic church?

Welsh_Poppy

It is such a bucket of worms and can cause so much bad feeling in families

I would speak to priest to clarify as what will be posted may not be accurate

I am catholic married in church devorced a year later fast forward 28 years have civil marriage but we are going through anulling my previous marriage as in eyes of church still married the process has been 18 months already and looks like another year to get a judgement until then I cant have the sacriments....totally crazy!!

Plans_all_plans

If neither party has ever been married in the Catholic church, they will be able to get married in the Church if the non-Catholic agrees to bring any children up Catholic.

If either party has previously been married by the Catholic church then there's no chance of getting married in the church I'm afraid.

In the case you describe then they should be free to marry in the Church as the first marriage won't be seen as valid.

Welsh_Poppy

All depends on first marriage was it between 2 christians in civil service if so it is reconised well my understanding of it.

Welsh_Poppy

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

If neither party has ever been married in the Catholic church, they will be able to get married in the Church if the non-Catholic agrees to bring any children up Catholic.

If either party has previously been married by the Catholic church then there's no chance of getting married in the church I'm afraid.

In the case you describe then they should be free to marry in the Church as the first marriage won't be seen as valid.

You have to anull marriege and then you can as we are going to do this if judgement goes our way.

Teenie_D

zaksmum wrote: »

So are you saying the first marriage would not be recognised by the Catholic church as it wasn't in a Catholic church?

No I think she means that because her Mum wasn't catholic that the church didn't recognise the marriage was legal ? Which is just plain daft if the church married them in the first place:mad:

Plans_all_plans

Yes this is true. But as you are finding out, it can be VERY tough to get an annullment and also longwinded!

tiff

My brother in law is catholic and his wife (not RC) was divorced when they met. They wanted to marry in a catholic church but when they went to see the priest he was against it and asked if they planned to bring any children up as catholic. As she had a cervical cancer and a hysterectomy at 28 she told the priest that that choice had been taken away from her. They went away very upset and decided to try another RC church. The other church asked for some sort of payment (not sure what its called officially) and I believe it was around £1000 but could be wrong. They paid the money and got married in an RC church, so its possible but they may have a few hurdles!