My fiancee is divorced. It was a civil wedding. Can we marry in the catholic church? Does the church keep civil marriages on record? If so, are they valid in the eyes of God? My biggest dream is to be married in the Catholic church...

-- Rita Smith (rita123xyz@hotmail.com), August 18, 2003

Answers

My fiancee is divorced.

not valid in the eyes of the church.

It was a civil wedding.

most times considered a valid wedding by the church.

Can we marry in the catholic church?

if your fiancee gets a declaration of nullity... yes. otherwise no.

Does the church keep civil marriages on record?

yes.

If so, are they valid in the eyes of God?

that would have to be determined by a tribunal, but they are valid most of the time.

My biggest dream is to be married in the Catholic church...

that, my dear, might not be a possibility unless you a) get your fiancees previous marraige declared null, or b) get a fiancee who doesnt need to take a second spin in the marraige lotto.

-- paul (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), August 18, 2003.

I think Paul's answer might be flawed. I was under the impression that civil ceremonies are not recognized as valid by the church. The second spin lotto comment was also a bit harsh.

-- John H (shutterbug75005@aol.com), June 25, 2004.

A civil ceremony does not result in a valid marriage for a Catholic. Regarding non-Catholics, the Church "assumes" that their marriages are valid, unless and until there is reason to formally make such a determination. This is not equivalent to actually stating that all such marriages ARE valid. It is more along the lines of "innocent until proven guilty" - in other words, witholding judgement until all the evidence is in. Since the Church normally doesn't have any occasion to examine the evidence concerning a marriage between two non-Catholics, this assumption of validity is, for practical purposes, permanent, unless the couple or one of them places themselves in a position of subjection to the authority of the Church - such as becoming a Catholic or marrying a Catholic. Then the Church would no longer simply "assume" validity, but would examine the evidence and determine the facts.

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

I was under the impression that civil ceremonies are not recognized as valid by the church.

for two baptised catholics, no... but that still has to be determined by a tribunal. for others, yes, they are valid.

The second spin lotto comment was also a bit harsh

this thread is almost a year old, posted by someone who never returned to this thread, and follows in a lineup of hundreds of annulment requests. the forum was also a different place then than now. answer people who want to get an annulment. they want you to paint them a rose colored picture, where everything is going to be all right and go their way. reality is, even if they do get a declaration of nullity, it rarely takes less than six months to a year, and that doesnt guaruntee they will get that declaration. REALITY is a harsh situation. answer a hundred questions like that and you begin to realize there is something wrong with the annulment process. there are two ways you can take that.

1) the annulment tribunal process is wrong. there are forumites who believe this, although arguing it (i think) was banned along with debating the SSPX, etc.

2) a large portion of people have fallen to the secularist idea that marraige is just another level of commitment in a relationship and that divorce and remarraige is completely all-right. its because the god of secularism is desire, which equates, in most peoples minds, to love. they desire a second husband or wife, and they rail against their promise to God in a desire to smash it and form a "new" promise.

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 26, 2004.