The query addresses the Catholic Church’s stance on marriage involving a Catholic individual and a non-Catholic individual who has previously been married and divorced. The central question revolves around the validity of the prior marriage in the eyes of the Church and whether the Church would permit a subsequent marriage. The permissibility hinges primarily on whether the divorced non-Catholic’s previous marriage is considered valid and binding according to Catholic doctrine.
The Catholic Church views marriage as a sacrament, a sacred and indissoluble bond meant to last until death. Prior to a Catholic entering into marriage with a divorced person, the Church requires a thorough examination of the previous marriage. If the prior marriage is deemed invalid due to lack of canonical form, lack of consent, or other impediments, the Church may grant an annulment. An annulment, also known as a declaration of nullity, is not a Catholic divorce; rather, it is a judgment by the Church that a valid marriage, as defined by Catholic law, never existed.
