Can a widowed Catholic man marry a divorced Catholic woman and still receive the sacraments?

Answer 1

No. If you wish to marry the divorced non-catholic man, he will need to seek and receive and annulment.

Marriage is a natural right, and belongs to the natural order. Therefore this person, though he might not have been Catholic was free to contract marriage with his bride in whatever form that took.

My advice to anyone in this situation is to encourage the person to seek an annulment if you wish to get married in the Catholic Church, and if you intend to continue to receive the sacraments.

Since at this point no marriage has been attempted, you are still free to receive the sacraments. If however you attempt a marriage outside the Catholic Church, you will have to refrain from receiving the sacraments unless or until the person seeks and receives an annulment.

Remember: Divorce does not dissolve a marriage, if it was validly contracted. Divorce simply means the couple is no longer living together as husband and wife. Therefore this person might be "divorced" but he is still "married" to the person. This is why an annulment is necessary, and why he is not free without an annulment to enter into a marriage, and why if you attempt to marry without him receiving an annulment you would have to refrain from receiving the sacraments.

I will not lie to you: the annulment process can (though not necessarily) be challenging and it may cost money. HOWEVER---you will find in the end it WILL bring peace and healing for he will be starting his new life with you afresh with his past healed. In short you will find the process to be well worth the challenge (if any) and time. Do not let a lack of funds deter you either.

Answer from a Catholic... there is one possibility that you can look into while seeking an annulment. You need to speak to your confessor about this. There is a possibility of receiving Holy Communion, most likely at another parish, where you are not know, if you live as brother and sister while seeking an annulment. You may only receive Holy Communion while in a state of grace, so you must go to confession and confess your attempt at marriage with someone who is already married. Further, you have to receive Holy Communion where you are not know as if others saw you, while you were living with someone, you would give rise to scandal, which is a very serious sin.

Answer 2

no

Roman Catholic AnswerYou need to speak with a priest about this situation. There are all kinds of different scenaros, was the non-Catholic man baptized, was his wife baptized? If he can get an annulment from the Church for whatever reason, then he would be free to marry. Without an annulment (a declaration by the Church that no valid marriage ever existed), then, indeed, no, you would not be able to marry as he is already married. If he can obtain an annulment, then, yes, you could marry IF he is willing to recognize your faith, support in your practice of the faith, he needs to attend Pre-Cana classes with you, etc. You really need to speak to a priest. Remember it is not just being unable to receive the Sacraments, you would be endangering your eternal salvation. You might think that this marriage is more important than that, but think again, and talk to the priest. Where you spend eternity - we are talking something that cannot be measured in millions and millions of years! is a little more important than where or how you spend the next fifty years, don't you think?

Answer 3

Roman Catholic AnswerIf the divorced Catholic woman is still married in the eyes of God, and the Church, then, no, she is not able to remarry and the widowed Catholic man would be excommunicating himself by attempting marriage with a woman who was already married. You need to speak to your priest about this.

Answer 4

No, she could not under the conditions you mentioned.

Answer 5

no