IRREGULAR MARRIAGE SITUATIONS

All Catholics must adhere to Canon Law as it is the governing code which helps all people to live a moral and upright life.

ALL CATHOLICS (EVEN IF JUST ONE IN THE COUPLE IS CATHOLIC) MUST BE MARRIED BEFORE A BISHOP, PRIEST, OR DEACON IN A CHURCH

CAN. 1108 §1.† Only those marriages are valid which are contracted before the local ordinary (Bishop), pastor, or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them, who assist, and before two witnesses

CAN. 1117† The form prescribed must be observed if at least one of the parties contracting the marriage was baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU WEREN’T MARRIED BEFORE A BISHOP, PRIEST, OR DEACON
If you are Catholic and you were not married by a bishop, priest, or deacon, and you did not seek a dispensation, you’re marriage is not a valid Sacramental Marriage in the eyes of the Church. What must you do to remedy the situation?

  • Meet with the pastor to fill out a simple 1 page dispensation form which will be submitted to the Archbishop.

  • After receiving back approval form the Archbishop (usually takes 3-6 weeks), the pastor will schedule a “convalidation ceremony” with you.

  • A convalidation ceremony is a simple reciting of your vows to one another. It takes very little time (10-20 minutes at the most) and can be done with close family or just the couple.

  • This is all free of charge.

MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO BAPTIZED, ONE CATHOLIC and ONE NON-CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN

CAN. 1124† Marriage between two baptized persons, one of whom was baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it after baptism, and the other a member of a Church or ecclesial community not in full communion with the Catholic Church, cannot be celebrated without the express permission of the competent authority.

MARRIAGE BETWEEN ONE BAPTIZED AND ONE NOT BAPTIZED

CAN. 1086 §1.† A marriage between two persons, one of whom has been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, and the other of whom is not baptized, is invalid.

PREVIOUS MARRIAGE

CAN. 1085 §1.† A person bound by the bond of a prior marriage, even if it was not consummated, invalidly attempts marriage.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU WERE PREVIOUSLY MARRIED AND ATTEMPTED MARRIAGE AGAIN WITHOUT AN ANNULMENT
Applying for an annulment from a previous bond/marriage is a process to be undertaken under the direction of your pastor. Together, you will meet with your pastor to fill out the necessary paperwork to begin the process. The entire process might take as much as 7-10 months, depending on how backed up the tribunal is with cases. While some may dread the thought of going through such a process, I have never once had anyone tell me they regret it after they’ve done it. They all have a sense of relief and closure at the end and feel complete freedom to enter into marriage with their new partner.

MARRIAGE OUTSIDE OF A CHURCH BUILDING

CAN. 1118 §1.† A marriage between Catholics or between a Catholic party and a non-Catholic baptized party is to be celebrated in a parish church. It can be celebrated in another church or oratory with the permission of the local ordinary (Bishop) or pastor.