I was reading a thread earlier that I can't find now. It was about receiving sacraments after a divorce. Am I to understand that one can receive all the sacraments after a divorce as long as one doesn't remarry? An annulment is only required if one wishes to remarry?
beachmoss wrote: I was reading a thread earlier that I can't find now. It was about receiving sacraments after a divorce. Am I to understand that one can receive all the sacraments after a divorce as long as one doesn't remarry? An annulment is only required if one wishes to remarry?
Yes, that is correct. As long as a person is not currently married or cohabitating, they may receive the sacraments if they are baptized Catholic or have been received into the Church, and are otherwise in the state of grace. In other words, the marriage and divorce alone will not stand in the way of receiving the sacraments.
The fact that a person is married once or a dozen times is irrelevant as long as that person is not currently living with someone as husband and wife.
Having said that, I strongly encourage anyone who has had an irregular marriage to seek a Declaration of Nullity as quickly as possible so that the previous marriage will not interfere with any future life decisions.
____________________ Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
