Looking for a Catholic church that doesn't require an annulment

peglee321

Does anyone know of a Catholic church in NH that won't require an annulment? I am Catholic and have never been married, but my fiance is Congregationalist and divorced. He was married in the UCC. We are looking for a Catholic church that will marry us without having to go through the annulment process. Anyone know anything?

right1thistime

Every Catholic church will recognize his Christian marriage as a valid marriage that is not dissolved.  Therefore, they see him as still married.  They will not allow you to get married in the Catholic Church to someone who they see as married.  Are you sure you are Catholic?

For the best answers about the diocesan policies & protocols, you need to speak with your parish priest. ~Donna

Avion22

Your best bet is to speak with your priest about your options.

My sister is Catholic (she converted as an adult -- I am not Catholic, so I'm not really an expert), and she had no problems annulling her first marriage prior to her second one -- but her first marriage wasn't to a Catholic or in a Catholic church (they eloped in Vegas), and I think that made it easier to annull.   

You might also have better luck on the NJ local board or on the Catholic Brides board under "cultural wedding boards."

ceceibson

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_looking-for-a-catholic-church-that-doesnt-require-an-annulment?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:35Discussion:86292dc6-6eb1-4c6c-b651-4f88d2a62285Post:484795ab-ad7c-4dc0-9074-91efce9e64c9">Looking for a Catholic church that doesn't require an annulment</a>:
[QUOTE]Does anyone know of a Catholic church in NH that won't require an annulment? I am Catholic and have never been married, but my fiance is Congregationalist and divorced. He was married in the UCC. We are looking for a Catholic church that will marry us without having to go through the annulment process. Anyone know anything?
Posted by peglee321[/QUOTE]

<div>There isn't "a" Catholic church that doesn't require an annulment because the rules are the sae for every Catholic, regardless of parish.</div><div>
</div><div>My FI is a Methodist.  His last marriage was in a Methodist church.  I am a widowed Catholic.  We are being married by a judge.  I know and intend to honor the rule:  when I marry my FI this summer, I will no longer be able to accept Eucharist because I am a Catholic married outside the church.</div><div>
</div><div>We are working with our parish priest to have my FI's previous marriage annuled.  Once that has been accomplished, we will have our marriage convalidated [blessed by the church.  Not a second wedding, not a vow renewal].</div>

boaznruth

I'd think your FI would also have to be converted to Catholicism as well, wouldn't he?  (I'm not up to date on Catholic doctrine, but I have family who are Catholic, at least culturally.)

This definitely seems like something you should schedule a meeting and sit down with a Priest about.  These matters can get complicated in a hurry and, if it's anything like my religious tradition, it's always better to be upfront about them rather than appearing as if you are trying to sneak around law or doctrine, which shopping for a more permissive officient could be seen as doing.

Good luck and congratulations!  

right1thistime

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_looking-for-a-catholic-church-that-doesnt-require-an-annulment?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:86292dc6-6eb1-4c6c-b651-4f88d2a62285Post:dec1db92-a6b3-4602-9159-5629dc47d911">Re: Looking for a Catholic church that doesn't require an annulment</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I'd think your FI would also have to be converted to Catholicism as well, wouldn't he?  (I'm not up to date on Catholic doctrine, but I have family who are Catholic, at least culturally.)</strong> This definitely seems like something you should schedule a meeting and sit down with a Priest about.  These matters can get complicated in a hurry and, if it's anything like my religious tradition, it's always better to be upfront about them rather than appearing as if you are trying to sneak around law or doctrine, which shopping for a <strong><em>more permissive officient</em></strong> could be seen as doing. Good luck and congratulations!  :)
Posted by boaznruth[/QUOTE]

A Catholic may marry a non-Catholic (my mother did- twice), there is no requirement that the spouse be Catholic.  There IS a requirement that your spouse not be already married, which, if they were married in a Christian ceremony (I am sure of, other faith based  ceremonies, I am not as sure) and have not had an annulment and their first spouse is still alive; they are still married in the Catholic church's eyes. This is the traditional Roman Catholic church, which is led by the Vatican, by the way.  There are some other churches that have split from the Roman Catholic church that may have different rules & requirements.  They are not viewed as Catholic by the church leadership. 

Since the Catholic church is one big giant bureaucratic organization, with top down leadership, things like performing marriages without an annulment will never be at the discretion of the officiant.  And even if there was a rogue priest who would do that, it would probably be considered invalid by the Church overall.  Baptising your baby if you don't attend Mass, a priest might do, but not this.  ~Donna

right1thistime

Google says ANY marriage, including civil, will have to be annulled.

coopadoobrew

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_second-weddings_looking-for-a-catholic-church-that-doesnt-require-an-annulment?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:35Discussion:86292dc6-6eb1-4c6c-b651-4f88d2a62285Post:e414d2ca-af81-4112-a778-35053f87ee20">Re: Looking for a Catholic church that doesn't require an annulment</a>:
[QUOTE]Google says ANY marriage, including civil, will have to be annulled.
Posted by right1thistime[/QUOTE]

My ex-husband was married civilly prior to our marriage.  It was a one-page annullment that took three weeks to have done.  Our marriage, on the other hand, was a sanation.  I am now having to go through the annullment process, and it's been six months since I turned in the paperwork... Nothing has been done yet... <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-frown.gif" border="0" alt="Frown" title="Frown" />

boaznruth

It's a good thing we have some Catholics on the board, or at least those familiar with their customs/laws.  I wouldn't say ours are any simpler, though, and can even possibly lead to a woman being unable to marry again for years while the husband remarries.  It's rare, but it's heartbreaking when it happens.  

right1thistime

Reformed Catholic, ruth. 
I chose to not get an annulment, and my DH has no desire to follow a rule for a religion he doesn't respect the rules of.  xH is working on an annulment so he can marry his gf in the church. ~Donna

right1thistime

Had to google

SANATION

The canonical pricess by which an invalid marriage is validated retroactively, back to the time when the contract was first made. Renewal of consent is not required once the impediments are dispensed. Thus, by a sort of legal fiction, the marriage will have been considered valid from the beginning. It is especially useful in the legitimation of children already born. Sanation may also be imperfect, thus not retroactive to the time of the original contract.

Lisa50

*\o/*   << doing the happy dance that I didn't have to pull out my "Catholic since the day I was born and taught Sunday school for 8+ years" resume to contribute to the discussion.

lb1212

Talk to your priest.  My FI was married before, but this is my 1st marriage.  Because he's also yet to be baptized, we had to submit a Favor of the Faith Petition to get married in the Catholic Church.  It usually takes about 10 months, but ours took 16 months.  My priest said that if we had a civil union, we could later have the marriage convalidated.  In the meantime, I would not be allowed to receive Holy Communion.  IMHO, it all depends on how serious you are about your faith.  I understand having a civil ceremony with a convalidation later, and that is what FI were going to do if the paperwork didn't come through in time, but what's the point in a"fake" Catholic wedding? 

starry08

It's an emotionally charged proess to have a first marriage under the catholic church annulled.

My FI was christian when he first married his ex, whom was catholic. They married under civil law. After they divorced, my FI converted to catholicism. Since my FI was not protected under catholic law at the time of their marriage and his ex-wife was, the church wouldn't grant us an annullment (although his ex-wife was kind enough to even pledge her side of the story for us).

With due respect, it is doesn't seem like a fair rule. I grew up in the catholic church and would love to be wed to the love of my life under its law. Regardless of the type of union, wether civil or religious, it doesn't change the degree of my commitment or respect for my FI and much less our value as individuals.

To each its own.