Regarding The Thread: Does The Rc Church Recognise Marriages In Other

[Anastasia13]

Ok, suppose a Catholic marries in a Protestant church, is effectively a Protestant, and then returns to the Catholic Church. This person divorces the Protestant spouse (if it makes a difference, then assume 1. before returning to the church and then 2. after returning to the church).  How does the Catholic Church regard this person's marital status?

[CatherineM]

Even if a Catholic marries a Protestant without going through the proper hoops, there is always the presumption that the marriage is valid. That marriage could later be blessed in the Church. However, if the marriage falls apart, it is a pretty easy process to have the marriage annulled, but the process still has to be gone through.

The reason Catholics have to go through certain requirements before marriage is so that the parties really understand what marriage means. The priest can determine if they are mature enough (and that has nothing to do with age) and truly prepared to make a lifetime commitment.