At Catholic Annulment - Second Chance, we are often asked if a Catholic can marry a divorced non-catholic. For instance, a Catholic may want to marry a spouse whose first marriage took place outside of the Church or in a non-catholic church. In short, yes. However, in order to be married in the Catholic Church, the spouse’s first marriage must be annulled.
In today’s post from Catholic Annulment - Second Chance, we will be discussing this question in further detail. Read on to hear more about this topic, and if you or your spouse are in need of annulment preparation services, contact Catholic Annulment - Second Chance today.
First, it’s important to understand that all legal marriages are recognized by the Church. Whether a marriage took place at a courthouse, a non-catholic church, or in other circumstances, as long as it was a legal marriage, it is viewed as valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
In order for a previously married individual to be married within the Catholic Church, they must have their first marriage annulled. This is true regardless of where the first marriage took place. The Catholic Church commonly annuls marriages of non-catholics for this purpose
A legal divorce or separation does not count as an annulment in the eyes of the Catholic Church. A divorce is a civil process, and while it’s important for legal reasons to undergo a divorce, it does not count as an annulment. Therefore, those who have been previously married, even if they have gone through the divorce process will still need a Catholic annulment from the church if they wish to be married within the Catholic Church.
The annulment process is the same whether the individual is a Catholic or non-catholic. At Catholic Annulment - Second Chance, we will work with you one-on-one to help prepare you for the annulment process and answer any of your questions.
At Catholic Annulment - Second Chance, we provide individuals who are in need of a Catholic annulment with the preparation necessary to make the process go as smoothly as possible. As a team of current and past Church judges, we understand the annulment process and how to help you best prepare. Contact us today to learn more.
