www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Married deacons and their wives - Previous anullments or divorces

I have seen a man who was married to a woman who had previously been divorced become a deacon. Their marriage was in the Church. Is this because of the annulment process, so she wasn't recognized as having been previously married?

If so, how does this play out in the Eastern churches? It is my understanding that the Eastern Catholic Churches also use annulments. Would this carry over there?

Would the Orthodox also accept a married man whose marriage had been annulled? (I know they do have annulments, even though it is less common than divorce.)

Would those churches which have divorces as well as annulments recognize an annulment from a church in which there is no recognized divorce?

In the Catholic POV, if an annulment is decreed it means that a sacramental marriage never existed. One is then free to contract marriage or recevie holy orders.

In the Orthodox POV, a cleric must be married only once. Therefore a man with an ecclesiastical divorce who remarries is ineligible to be ordained.

"If the wife should die, the husband (now a Deacon or Priest) may not marry again."

I believe Rome has eased this restriction for Latin deacons and a widowed deacon may ask for a dispensation to remarry and continue serving as a deacon.

Even in the Orthodox churches, the case of Fr. Joseph Allen indicates that some bishops may allow a priest to marry again.

It is interesting that you brought this topic up. I spoke with a Cannon Lawyer the other day about a related topic. I was expressing concern about a Deacon who had several very young children. If a tragic accident happened to his wife and his wife passed away, how difficult would it be for the Deacon to raise his children.

The Cannon Lawyer told me that in Cannon Law there are exceptions for clergy who have young children and their wives pass away. Those clergy can appeal to the Church and possibly get Re-Married.

So, I assume Cannon Law also allows for some exceptions of previously married Clergy as well.

I hope this helps.

Even in theory, there is a serious difference between the case of a married Deacon whose wife dies, and who requests a special permission to remarry because his children need maternal care, and the case of a twice-married man who seeks ordination to the Diaconate.


Fr. Serge

"Even in the Orthodox churches, the case of Fr. Joseph Allen indicates that some bishops may allow a priest to marry again."

The above case is an anomaly and took place in the Antiochian church.
Please don't give people the impression that there are other bishops in various Orthodox jurisdictions that break canon law.

I did not write, nor would I have written, the words which appear to be attributed to me in the previous post.

Fr. Serge

"Even in the Orthodox churches, the case of Fr. Joseph Allen indicates that some bishops may allow a priest to marry again."
Diak

The above case is an anomaly and took place in the Antiochian church.
Please don't give people the impression that there are other bishops in various Orthodox jurisdictions that break canon law.
Orest
"I did not write, nor would I have written, the words which appear to be attributed to me in the previous post.

Fr. Serge"

I am very sorry in my previous post that I did not indicate that the author of the quoted words regarding Fr. Joseph Allen, was "Diak".
My apologies to all.