Question:
I have been Catholic all my life, never married, and I am engaged to be married to a man who is a non-catholic. He was married before in a civil ceramony in Las Vegas three years ago, but he is now divorced. We are interested in getting married in a Catholic Church. What will he need to do in order for us to be married in the Catholic Church?
Answer:
If the non-Catholic man you are engaged to was married to a non-Catholic woman – even if it was just in a civil ceremony – their marriage in Las Vegas is presumed to be valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church. [This presumes that neither person had been previously married and divorced before the Las Vegas wedding.]
He would need to apply for a Catholic church annulment. If the annulment is granted, he would be free to marry you in the Catholic Church.
I would suggest that you go talk to your parish priest. Have your fiance go with you and he should bring his marriage certificate and divorce papers. The priest will then advise you as to what to do next.
Sr. Sandra
