St. Paul the Apostle Church is here to help you through any issues in your marriage. The main thing to know is that if you are divorced, you are not shunned by the Church. You are free to partake in the Sacraments of the Church as long as you are not remarried without receiving an annulment. This is a very misunderstood concept. If you are divorced and remarried civilly or in another denomination, you are not permitted to receive the Sacraments until your first marriage is annulled, and your current marriage is validated.
An annulment, or Declaration of Nullity, is issued when the Church sees that the marriage bond was not valid from the beginning. One should seek an annulment if you are divorced and planning to remarry one day. You should also seek an annulment if you are divorced and remarried civilly or in another denomination.
There are many different processes regarding annulments--much more than can be described here. It is best to schedule a meeting with Andrew Burson, Director of Parish Ministry ([email protected]), to go over your case and discuss the best course of action.
Below are some resources to help you better understand your situation and to help you answer any questions you may have. As always, please contact the parish office with any questions. This process can seem daunting but know we are here to help you.
These documents will help you answer some pressing questions regarding divorce in the Catholic Church and society.
Many people do not understand that if you are divorced you are still free to receive Holy Communion and the other Sacraments. The issue arises when a person is divorced and remarried without receiving an annulment. These individuals are not permitted to receive Holy Communion, or the other Sacraments, until the marriage(s) is annulled and the current marriage validated.
There are many questions surrounding the nature of an annulment. This document will help you come to a better understanding of what a declaration of nullity is and how it can help you.
There are times when the procurator or the Diocesan Tribunal are unable to find any grounds for the invalidity of the marriage. This document will help you to better understand why this may have happened and what the next steps ought to be.