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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Abortion and Annulment of marriage	Scott	Sunday, March 6, 2016
Question: My wife, a non-catholic, had an abortion several years before we got married. Neither one of us shared this with the priest who married us or during our wedding preparation. If I were to reveal this now, would the church annul the marriage? Is her abortion grounds for annulment of the marriage? At the time, I didn't feel it was my place to tell the priest about it; I felt that whatever my wife needed to confess was between her and God. I also do not feel it is my place to judge her on things she did prior to our relationship. (She did this before I ever knew her). I just want to know what the church will tell me if it were known that she had an abortion. Would the priest ever have married us if he knew?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Scott: The fact that your wife had an abortion long before you were married is not grounds for annulment. First off, an annulment is only possible after the couple divorces. Secondly, the issue of the Sacramentality of the marriage is judged at the time of the marriage, not one's life in the past before the marriage. If your wife "believed in and supported" abortion at the time you were married, I suppose that could be grounds for annulment (Church will have to decide that), but that will not come up unless you get divorced. If your wife supports abortion today she may not receive the Sacraments, if she were Catholic, as she is in a state of grave sin. As for whether or not a priest would have married you in the first place, I do not think there would be a reason for him to deny your marriage as long as your wife did not supported abortion at the time. A previous abortion that took place before you knew her is not in-its-self relevant. You do need to ask your wife her views on abortion today. If she is supportive, you will need to have a discussion about that. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Abortion and Annulment of marriage

Scott

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Question:

My wife, a non-catholic, had an abortion several years before we got married. Neither one of us shared this with the priest who married us or during our wedding preparation.

If I were to reveal this now, would the church annul the marriage? Is her abortion grounds for annulment of the marriage?

At the time, I didn't feel it was my place to tell the priest about it; I felt that whatever my wife needed to confess was between her and God. I also do not feel it is my place to judge her on things she did prior to our relationship. (She did this before I ever knew her). I just want to know what the church will tell me if it were known that she had an abortion. Would the priest ever have married us if he knew?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Scott:

The fact that your wife had an abortion long before you were married is not grounds for annulment. First off, an annulment is only possible after the couple divorces. Secondly, the issue of the Sacramentality of the marriage is judged at the time of the marriage, not one's life in the past before the marriage.

If your wife "believed in and supported" abortion at the time you were married, I suppose that could be grounds for annulment (Church will have to decide that), but that will not come up unless you get divorced.

If your wife supports abortion today she may not receive the Sacraments, if she were Catholic, as she is in a state of grave sin.

As for whether or not a priest would have married you in the first place, I do not think there would be a reason for him to deny your marriage as long as your wife did not supported abortion at the time. A previous abortion that took place before you knew her is not in-its-self relevant.

You do need to ask your wife her views on abortion today. If she is supportive, you will need to have a discussion about that.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum