Can a Catholic couple who was previously divorced to other Catholics but got married by a court receive Holy Communion? Thank you.

Hi David,

Two Catholics marry before a Justice of the Peace, then I assume that marriage ended civilly (no convalidation took place), and then another marriage takes place before a Justice of the Peace (both parties again Catholic), can they receive Holy Communion? They can receive Holy Communion only if they are not in an obstinate state of grave sin - e.g. being merely civilly married, while bound to canonical form and having sexual relations while in civil marriage together -). So, if the civilly married couple are having sexual relations regularly without the benefit of being in a valid marriage, then no they may not receive Holy Communion.

Peace and blessings, Bob

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