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Communion for the Invalidly Married

Question:

If a Catholic marries someone who has been married before, can he or she receive Communion?

Answer:

In order for a marriage to be valid, both parties need to be free to marry. If someone was married before, that person needs to apply for a decree of nullity (annulment). Unless the previous marriage is declared null, they cannot be married in the Church. And if someone is in an invalid marriage, he or she ordinarily should not receive Communion.

But if a couple lives together in complete continence, then they are free to receive the Eucharist. If there is the possibility of scandal, that scandal should be eliminated as far as is possible by informing the scandalized of the situation.

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