If two married Lutherans divorce civilly, can either remarry in the Catholic Church?
The short answer
Only if the first marriage is found not to have been valid. A valid sacramental marriage ends only with the death of a spouse, so the marriage must first be investigated. If it was valid, no new marriage can take place; if not, a declaration of nullity frees the person to marry a Catholic, who needs a dispensation to marry a non-Catholic.
Only death ends a valid marriage
If the prior marriage was valid and sacramental, only the death of a spouse frees the other to marry, in keeping with Jesus' teaching (Mark 10:9).
Investigation first
If one spouse wants to marry in the Catholic Church while the other lives, the prior marriage must first be investigated. If it was valid and sacramental, a new marriage cannot take place.
If it was not valid
The Church will declare this with a declaration of nullity, and the person should be free to marry a Catholic in the Church, provided the Catholic receives the dispensation needed to marry a non-Catholic.
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