Catholicism And Sacramental Annulment

[Mammar]

If a non catholic wants to convert to Catholicism and has been previously civilly married and civilly divorced why do they need an annulment?

[Old_Geezer]

Because rules is rules ?

[Mamyalynne]

Don't shoot me, I only bring the reason...

//If you receive a civil divorce, but no annulment, then you are still married to the other person in the eyes of the Church and would be committing adultery if you married another.//

[Buenchico]

The Catholic church doesn't recognise divorce. Canon law states that marriage is for ever and it doesn't matter where the marriage ceremony was conducted.

So, as far as the Catholic church is concerned, divorced people are still married to each other and must always remain so.

The only exception is where it is accepted that the marriage never fulfilled the canon law requirements anyway (e.g. if it can be shown that the couple never genuinely intended to enter into a life-long relationship). Then an annulment may be granted, effectively stating that (as far as the church is concerned) no valid marriage ever occurred.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-catholic-church-divorce-and-annulment.html

[hc4361]

It doesn't apply if you got married in a registry office or a non-Christian place of worship

[Old_Geezer]

So, you don't need an annulment then ? You just have to consider yourself still married ?

[naomi24]

Because the Roman Catholic church doesn’t recognise divorce. It prefers to annul a marriage and, in effect, deem that you were never married at all.

[Mammar]

Thank you all. In this situation, neither of the parties were catholic at the time of marriage. Although they have been divorced he's been told that if he wants to convert to Catholicism he must get his marriage annulled by the church or he can't remarry. Never heard of this before.

[Mammar]

Also, if he wanted to marry again in church, I think you have to go give notice of marriage to the registrar of the district you live in. So, when they ask you if you have been married before you would have to say 'yes' and produce your decree absolute because you have, even though the church had subsequently annulled it?
So, I suppose that way you satisfy the law with the divorce and the church with the annulment?

[Mammar]

But, hc4361, the marriage was a civil one in an approved premises. I suppose the church still insists that wherever they got married doesn't matter as long as the church considers it annulled?

[naomi24]

Mammar , What you have been told is correct. Divorce is a civil procedure. Marriage, according to the church, is a sacrament. An annulment deems that, for whatever reason, a legitimate marriage never took place. It’s a lie, and all very silly, but that’s the way the Catholic church gets around the problem of people wanting to marry for a second time.

[Mammar]

Oh fender, at least you cheered me up. Thank goodness I'm not one of the parties but it is upsetting my friend. I was just so puzzled but didn't like to ask too many questions

[hc4361]

Mammar, the Catholic Church insist on on annulment of a former marriage because they consider marriage to be a Sacrament.

For the marriage to be a Sacrament each person:
must be baptised in the Catholic Church at the time of the marriage
must have entered the marriage of their own free will
must be free to marriage (no impediments, lawful or ecclesiastical)
must be married in a Catholic Church

If these conditions aren't met the Church don't consider them to be married, so I don't know why the Church is insisting on annulment in this case

[naomi24]

Mammar, although a couple married in a civil ceremony are legitimately married in civil law, the marriage is not considered valid in church law.

[Mammar]

Buenchico - thank you for that link, it was helpful.

[Khandro]

fender; //make a substantial donation to rome, and they will annul it...substantial ?
church always needs new golden idols to worship and retreats for priests cost money, silk aint cheap anymore...personally id ignore the lot and say feck it all//

That "answer" says so much about you. The OP is a serious question asking for a serious answer, not a request for your bigoted opinions.

[naomi24]

hc4361, // Why do I need an annulment if I'm not Catholic?

If you're not Catholic, but plan to marry a Catholic, you might be asked to go through the annulment process. This seems odd to most non-Catholics because neither person from the first union is Catholic. Therefore, why should the Catholic Church investigate this marriage?

The Catholic Church presumes the validity of any marriage between two people who are free to marry at the time of their wedding. (They must have no previous marriages.) Basically, if the non-Catholic religious community of either spouse recognized the marriage, so does the Catholic Church. Since marriage, as God created it, is permanent, then the Catholic Church must also investigate these marriages. Because the non-Catholic wishes to marry a Catholic, the Church's law applies to the proposed marriage, since canon law still binds the Catholic whom the non-Catholic wishes to marry.

In short, the Catholic Church believes her teachings concerning the essence and the properties of marriage bind all people, regardless of whether they are Catholic, as part of God's natural law.//

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/life-and-family/marriage/catholic-marriage-and-annulments/

[Mammar]

hc and Naomi - the reason given is that at the time of marriage, the woman wasn't baptised in any religion, hence the civil marriage taking place. He didn't follow any religion at that time either but now wants to be Catholic and no doubt hopes to marry in that religion some day. But I wouldn't have thought her non-belief would be sufficient reason to need an annulment? I suppose as there are no other applicable factors, that's a loophole?
I do appreciate your help on this.

[Mammar]

Thank you Naomi for that. A section in the link explained it more fully.
Much appreciated everybody's help in this