I'm not sure how to frame this question correctly, but here goes, and I hope it makes sense... I was baptised protestant (Church of England), and raised accordingly. Over the past few years, my spiritual needs have grown, and following a personal pilgrimage to Rome, I have now taken the decision to formally convert (following the RCIA course). My question really is this:

I have been married twice, and divorced both times by my husbands, because they had met another person they wished to be with. One of these men has subsequently remarried. The other is living with a man. I have 2 children (with the 'gay' husband), both of whom, although baptised C of E are now being raised as Catholics, attending RC school and in receipt of the relevant sacraments. Would I be allowed to remarry in a Catholic ceremony if I should meet 'Mr Right' ? If not the actual ceremony, would I still be allowed a blessing ??

I am quite concerned about this as I always tried my hardest to make my previous marriages work, and would prefer a religious ceremony should I ever feel I wished to marry again.

-- Jayne Rose (BEWL01@AOL.COM), August 20, 2004

Answers

If you are converting to Catholicism, you would have no choice about a "religious ceremony" for any future marriage, assuming you are eligible to marry. It wouldn't be a matter of preference. The determination of your eligibility to marry - or more precisely, the determination of the validity or lack of validity of your previous marriages - would have to be made by a marriage tribunal. You should submit the details of both marriages for consideration/ investigation as soon as possible. Your parish priest can give you some guidance regarding how to procede.

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