Conversion and sacraments.
Question from Eileen on 6/30/2008:
In a recent answer Fr Gantley said: "In my ministry, I always encourage people who are now unmarried with prior marriages to have questions of marital nullity resolved prior to becoming Catholic. This is best because it avoids the situation of a person entering the Church and then being denied the ability to marry."
Ff an intending convert submitted his first marriage to a tribunal and it was found to be valid, would he then be prevented from becoming Catholic? Thanks, Eileen
Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 6/30/2008:
Marriages are not found to be valid but presumed to be valid. For a declaration of nullity to be issued, the petitioner must prove that the marriage was invalid.
If a person wanted to become Catholic, had a prior marriage but is now unmarried, I would encourage him or her to petition for a declaration of nullity. If it were granted, then fine. If it received a negative decision, I might still admit the person into the Church, provided that the person promised to never marry again in the Church. If the person was younger (age 30), then I think that this would be done as a part of a rather lengthy conversation about how difficult this might be in reality.
Question from Eileen on 6/30/2008:
In a recent answer Fr Gantley said: "In my ministry, I always encourage people who are now unmarried with prior marriages to have questions of marital nullity resolved prior to becoming Catholic. This is best because it avoids the situation of a person entering the Church and then being denied the ability to marry."
Ff an intending convert submitted his first marriage to a tribunal and it was found to be valid, would he then be prevented from becoming Catholic? Thanks, Eileen
Answer by Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL on 6/30/2008:
Marriages are not found to be valid but presumed to be valid. For a declaration of nullity to be issued, the petitioner must prove that the marriage was invalid.
If a person wanted to become Catholic, had a prior marriage but is now unmarried, I would encourage him or her to petition for a declaration of nullity. If it were granted, then fine. If it received a negative decision, I might still admit the person into the Church, provided that the person promised to never marry again in the Church. If the person was younger (age 30), then I think that this would be done as a part of a rather lengthy conversation about how difficult this might be in reality.
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