Twice married and divorced and want to remarry my first wife ...

Question:

I am Catholic man who had a catholic wedding; and, then my wife and I divorced a few years later.

After the divorce I remarried a woman in a civil wedding service without getting a church annulment. I have subsequently divorced her.

Divorced now, I want to remarry my first catholic wife again.

Can we remarry in the Catholic Church and can we receive Holy Communion?

Answer:

You ask a very interesting question. Since the Catholic Church does not recognize civil divorce, you and your first wife are still considered husband and wife in the Catholic Church. So there is no need to "remarry" in the Church. In fact you would not be able to do so - as again - you have been considered husband and wife since your church wedding. The civil divorce did not affect that marital relationship.

In addition, since you are no longer living in your second union [the interim civil marriage], you are presently free to receive all the sacraments, including penance and Holy Communion.

You will need to go through a new "civil marriage" with the woman you are married to in the Catholic Church, since you civilly divorced her. But that is a civil matter and can most likely be done at your local City Hall.