My husband has been divorced twiced, and had children with those marriages. He's non-catholic, but is Christian, and I will be raising my children Catholic. Is it possible for us to get married in the Catholic Church? Doesn't annulment mean that the marriage never really existed? What if the ex's do not agree with the annulment of their marriages? Thank you very much for your help!

-- Olivia C. (oliceb@yahoo.com), February 17, 2005

Answers

Olivia, the quick answers to your questions are

(1) yes, but not immediately.

(2) yes, the wedding took place in the eyes of the state, and the kids are legit in everyone's eyes, but no marriage in God's eyes took place.

(3) it doesn't matter whether or not the ex's agree.

You are welcome.

-- C.P. (cpetersen@bigbay.com), February 17, 2005.

I'd better clarify number three.

I meant that, if an ex doesn't agree with the decision (nullity), that doesn't matter.

But if you were asking whether it matters that they are unwilling to take part in the proceedings, that's another matter. Their cooperation would be very helpful, but it is not absolutely necessary. Their involvement (e.g., addition of key evidence), or lack thereof (e.g., withholding evidence), could affect the decision.

-- C.P. (cpetersen@bigbay.com), February 17, 2005.

As a once divorced man in this position who is marrying a Catholic woman, I wouldn't even go there if a church wedding is important to you. Find someone single before it's too late. See my previous post and replies in this forum.

-- James (anon@anon.com), February 17, 2005.