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Hi, guys —
I am 24 years old and have been a Catholic
since birth. Though I strayed from the Church
for a few years, I have recently found myself
drawn back into the fold. I attend Mass at
a variety of churches in the Chicago land
area, and also attend Mass during my travels
to Poland, though I do not speak any other
language, other than English. I find the familiar
Catholic Mass gives me comfort in any language.
My situation: I am married, but legally,
and not in the Church. Due to immigration
issues,
my Polish wife and I have become estranged,
and she has cheated on me. I believe this
is grounds for the marriage to be annulled
and she has agreed to this.
All my life, I have considered becoming a
Catholic Priest.
- If I do get either a legal divorce or
annulment, is it possible I will be accepted
to study and enter the Priesthood?
Thank you and God Bless,
Ned
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Ned —
Cheating is not grounds for annulment.
However, a man can become a priest
if divorced, even if not annulled,
if his wife agrees. The wife may
not remarry if the first marriage
was valid.
Your present civil marriage is most
likely invalid due to "defect
of form" — UNLESS you
had renounced the faith during that
period that you married.
That said, it will need to be examined
to see if it needs to be annulled
at all. If it was invalid,
or if it is annulled, then your civil
wife is free to marry again while
you become a priest.
Mary Ann
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