Civilly divorced, can I remarry in Catholic Church?

Cedar1

I'm hoping someone might be able to answer my question.  I am Catholic and I married a non-Catholic in a registry office in 2003. We have since divorced, and I have now been in a relationship with another man, who is Catholic, for the past 3 years.  We are engaged and would love to marry in the Catholic Church. My understanding is that as I was Catholic and married in a registry office, this marriage was not deemed valid in the church. As I am now civilly divorced, would it be possible to remarry in the church, as I have never been married in the eyes of God? Can anyone confirm if this is the case? I just want an idea before I go and speak to my local priest. Thanks.

neemish

You're situation is made a little easier because you married a non-Catholic in the Civil Ceremony. THere will be lots of questions as to the validity of the marriage under Canon Law - the law of the Catholic Church.Your best bet is to seek some advice from a Canon Lawyer at the local Regional Marriage Tribunal. There are four of these in Ireland. If you PM me what Diocese you're in, I can send you on the details.

With the greatest respect to local priests, sometimes it is easier to get advice from people who are dealing with this sort of thing all the time :-)

Best of luck

Peregrinus

Your prospects are good, but you need to go and talk to them. Start with your parish priest, and he'll refer you to the tribunal that deals with such matters.

Basically, there's a rule that a Catholic needs either (a) to marry in a Catholic ceremony, or (b) to get a dispensation from their Bishop allowing them to marry in a non-Catholic ceremony. If a Catholic does neither of these things, and marries in a non-Catholic ceremony without a dispensation, the marriage is considered invalid, and both parties remain free to marry. Once you can satisfy them that this is your situation, and also that your civil marriage has been ended by divorce, you should be fine to marry in a Catholic church. But they will need to see the paperwork and have evidence of the facts, and it will take a little time. So start now.

Cedar1

Thanks so much for your replies and advice. Do you have any idea how long this would actually take?

Peregrinus

How long is a pieces of string?, I think is the answer. Depends on which tribunal office is handling it, and how quickly you can assemble the documentary evidence needed. But both Catholic church rules and state rules require you to give three months notice of marriage in any case, and I think it may well be possible to get it sorted within that time.

Thinkingaboutit

A civil marriage may be classed as 'natural marriage' not a sacramental marriage, which may be annulled (see Petrine or Pauline privilege). Again, this matter requires the expertise of a canon lawyer.