Second Marriage, for a Roman Catholic (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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Don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

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	Second Marriage, for a Roman Catholic (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

My question is, I am divorced, and I want to get married to a guy that is an Orthodox Christian. I am Catholic, and I am trying to get an annulment.

I was wondering, if I got the annulment would we be able to get married in an Orthodox Church, and if not why? and if it is not possible for us to get married, is there any way for us to be able to get married in the Orthodox religion?

I will do anything for us to be able to get married, so please let me know what we can do. I need to know what is possible for us to be married in God's house in the Orthodox Church.

ANSWER:

Thank you very much for your question. I pray that everything will work out for you and your fiance. Since I do not know all the details of your particular situation it is difficult for me to offer specifics. However, I can offer the following:

The Roman Catholic Church will require you to obtain an annulment from your diocese's marriage tribunal before permitting you to be married in the Roman Catholic Church. You did not indicate whether or not you wish to remain a practicing, active Roman Catholic or whether you are considering converting to Orthodox Christianity. If you wish to remain an active, practicing Roman Catholic, you will need to the annullment, in the Roman Catholic Church's eyes, in order to get married in an Orthodox ceremony.

From the general Orthodox perspective, the annullment is of no significance, assuming that you are not planning to remain a member of the Roman Catholic Church. However, since you do not indicate the jurisdiction to which your Orthodox fiance belongs, I cannot comment on your individual situation, since other Orthodox jurisdictions may indeed require you to produce an annullment decree even if you wish to be married in an Orthodox ceremony. You can do two things here: Write back to me and tell me which parish and to which jurisdiction your Orthodox fiance belongs since that will assist me in determining a more complete response, or make an appointment to speak with the priest at the Orthodox parish to which your fiance belongs and ask what the regulations in the diocese to which he belongs require.

Because I do not know any of the other particulars in your case, I cannot comment further. Providing me with the information will help, but ultimately you will need to speak to the priest at your Orthodox fiance's parish to see what is required in that parish and the jurisdiction to which it belongs.

I hope this helps! May God bless you!
Fr. John Matusiak

Published in January 2011.

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