Catholic And Catholic Marry-outside Church.

[Guest dove]

hi there,
bear with me on this one, it may take a while.
If I give you info on me and my life then it makes it easier to understand.(hopefully!)

I was born to a catholic father, baptist mother.
I was baptised in the catholic church. Mom didnt bring me to church, cause she wasnt catholic. Dad? Too busy, I guess. Of course, he tells me NOW that he should have brought me there more.
I went to church on my own from age 7 until age 14. It was a small church around the corner from my home and since it was a close neighborhood. I was allowed to go on my own. Sunday school and services, the whole thing. Then we moved and life goes on... etc.
So I meet the man of my dreams and we decide to get married.
He tells me that we cant marry in the church. Of course, I never received my sacriments (communion, confirmation-I always thought if youre baptised...youre in)(thats another question though)

So heres the deal.
He was married before. They dated a few years, got engaged, got married. 7 weeks later she walks out. (yes, I wrote SEVEN weeks) Actually, she asked for a divorce on the honeymoon,and he thought she was kidding.
Went to the church, and was told that they would need to come for counceling. He would, she wouldnt. why? she had already filed for divorce.
so he went back and asked for an annullment. The church said no. Counselling first. She refused and told the priest that she never wanted to marry him, just wanted the whole white wedding in the church thing. Said she had been with someone else for 4 years on the side.
Well, the church still refused an annullment. (and if I may,-no disrespect father- they said they would consider it for a small 2,000.00 donation)
Ok, so he (my now husband) tells the priest, that he just paid for a wedding, honeymoon, donation for the wedding, a new home and now he's supposed to get a lawyer for a divorce, AND give more money to the church again? (I wont tell you what the priest told him)
So my now husband told the priest that he simply could not afford it.
He was denied an annullment.

So then he meets me. Barring the fact that I have not received my sacriments. What is your opinion on this. Lets just say that I did have all my sacriments. Would we have been able to marry in the church. His family was very strict in this manner. The only reason they allowed our marriage to take place outside of the catholic church was because of that. The fact that I was catholic (at birth-as they put it) made it a holy union to them and the churches refusal of annulment for him, hurt them very much.
I told my husband that someday I'd like to get remarried in the catholic church. I dont think hes crazy about the idea. But I can pray, right?

Id really like some insight on this, we have been married for almost 8 years, and honestly, had I known that marriage was like this....I would have married when I was 16. He has been the answer to all my prayers to God.

Thank you for any enlightenment.

[BLAZEr]

I'm totally confused just reading this. You really need to talk to another priest.

It seems to me that there should not be a hindrance to an anullment since it seems pretty clear that his wife had no intention of entering into a sacramental marriage. I would talk to another priest, I'm sure you can find one who would actually be helfpul.

That being said, since his first marriage is not anulled, he is still married to his first wife. If his marriage was to be annulled and you were to be confirmed then you could both get married in a Catholic ceremony and create a sacramental marriage.