Divorce and conversion

Boywonder23k · #1 Jul 16, '12, 3:32 pm

Me and my wife have decided to convert to Catholicism and were hoping to join the next available RCIA. Unfortunately my wife has been married and divorced previously. Her ex husband was a baptized Protestant and she was unbaptized and not affiliated with any religion. They were divorced and we were married afterwards. Since then she and our children have been baptized in the Lutheran Church. As I understand it both parties must be baptized in order for there to be a sacrimebtal union. Should we petition for the Petrine privelage or else a formal annulment? Can we join RCIA with our current marraige issues unresolved? Any input is appreciated

Delaine75 · #2 Jul 16, '12, 4:47 pm

Definitely talk to your priest. He will find out what needs to be done. Many blessings to you when you begin your RCIA journey - I know you and your wife will love it!

SuscipeMeDomine · #3 Jul 16, '12, 4:51 pm

Meet with your priest and get the process of obtaining a declaration of nullity started. You can -- and should -- go ahead and start RCIA but the marriage issue will need to be resolved before you can be received into the Church.

jenwha · #4 Jul 16, '12, 4:54 pm

There are a lot of different factors involved in granting an annullment as I got granted one last year as well and some are more complicated than others, but everyone I went through RCIA was able to get one...if she was unbaptized at the time of her first marriage I think that will make yours easier than if she was. A word of advice though, when you do join RCIA, do yourself a favor and submit your preliminary application for annulment QUICKLY.

Mine was a fairly easy one, I submitted it mid October, and it JUST got approved about two weeks before I was to be confirmed in April.

You both would have to be members of the Catholic faith to be recognized as a sacramental marriage I believe. The RCC will however recognize her later baptism in the Lutheran church to be a valid Christian baptism. I don't know what the Petrine privelige is. Good luck!

**1ke** · #5 Jul 16, '12, 5:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenwha

You both would have to be members of the Catholic faith to be recognized as a sacramental marriage I believe.

This is not correct. Any valid marriage between two baptized people is a sacrament.

**1ke** · #6 Jul 16, '12, 5:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boywonder23k

Me and my wife have decided to convert to Catholicism and were hoping to join the next available RCIA. Unfortunately my wife has been married and divorced previously. Her ex husband was a baptized Protestant and she was unbaptized and not affiliated with any religion. They were divorced and we were married afterwards. Since then she and our children have been baptized in the Lutheran Church. As I understand it both parties must be baptized in order for there to be a sacrimebtal union. Should we petition for the Petrine privelage or else a formal annulment? Can we join RCIA with our current marraige issues unresolved? Any input is appreciated

You really must sit down and lay out all the facts with your priest.

I suggest this chart:

http://www.diocs.org/Portals/1/Docum...ion_matrix.pdf

A formall process will likely be needed. Since she has now been baptized, Petrine Privilege would only be possible if she was not baptized at all during her first marriage until after the divorce and never had sexual relations with her first husband after baptism. I'm no expert but Petrine Privilege seems pretty involved, the tribunal can guide you and the priest however.

Just eat the elephant one bite at a time.

joanofarc2008 · #7 Jul 16, '12, 8:32 pm

Talk to your priest, good luck, and God bless,