Catholic Singles

Hi Fr. Jim,
I was divorced in 1996 due primarily to mental abuse from my husband. I am Catholic and practice my religion very seriously. A priest once told me that God would not look down on me because of the divorce.
Does this mean I could marry in the Catholic church? That marriage was performed in the Catholic church. Thank you so much for your time.

God bless you!

God Bless You too!  And I'm sorry to hear that you had such an awful experience.  I cannot imagine how painful a divorce and the abuse that lead up to it must have been.

And I agree with your parish priest - that God doesn't look down on people who get divorced.  Do I think that God is saddened by it?  Sure - just as sad as you must have been to be going through it as well.  I think if we keep that image of God as our Father front and center in our minds and realize how our own parents would be saddened to see us in an unhealthy relationship, to see us go thru the pain of separation and divorce - it gives us a healthier way to relate to God.   That's one reason Jesus told us to say "Our Father" - not simply His Father...

As for getting remarried - that's a different issue.  Just because God doesn't look down on this situation doesn't mean that there's not things that need to be taken care of before entering into a new union.  One reason I believe God is saddened by a divorce is that the promise, the vow, the covenant wasn't fulfilled.  And before entering into another one, the Annulment process puts the marriage on trial (not the individuals) and asks "what prevented this marriage from being fulfilled".

I would suggest talking to your parish priest to explain a bit more about the process and how he can assist you thru that.

Peace and my prayers that you will continue to experience and know God's love -

Father Jim