Annulment Takes Away Grace?

[CreepyCrawler]

If a couple gets an annulment meaning that their original marriage wasn't valid, then are those sacramental graces gone (as in, they were never there to begin with since their marriage wasn't valid)?

Also, if someone divorces you (as in, you have no choice but you don't want to), can you still get communion even though you're not supposed to if you're divorced? (I'm wondering b/c a woman I know is officially 'married' to her husband even though they haven't lived together for several years and there is 'another woman.' She doesn't want to get a divorce b/c she won't be able to get communion. So if her husband just decides to divorce her, is she culpable?)

What happens when a priest is excommunicated? Does he still have the ability to make the bread and wine into Jesus' bread and body (even if he's not supposed to)?

Thanks.

Edited April 24, 2004 by CreepyCrawler

[Adeodatus]

1. If they get an annulment, the sacramental graces aren't gone. They were never there to begin with, because an annulment is the recognition it was never a sacrament. Having said that, because we always 'presume in favour of marriage', that doesn't mean grace was not available to that couple when they thought they were married.

2. You're unable to approach the sacraments if you divorce [b]and remarry[/b]. Getting divorced by the state may be a good thing to do if it gives you state protection from a cruel and dangerous spouse etc. Divorce doesn't keep you from the sacraments, but attempting re-marriage does.

3. A validly ordained priest is a priest forever 'according to the order of Melchisedek' (as Scripture says). Even if he's excommunicated, even if he's in mortal sin, the sacraments he celebrates would be valid so long as the form and matter are correct and he intends what the Church intends when he celebrates these sacraments. They would be valid, but illicit. He would also be in contravention of ecclesiastical censure, to say the least.