My friend is very sad

[DeeDee]

Two years ago my friend married a man who she did not know was previously married. They were married in the church. When she told a priest in the parish about this he told her she could no longer receive Holy Communion. My friend is devastated, and in a lot of emotional pain. When she told me about it she was crying so hard she could hardly speak. If she didn't know the man was married why should she have to suffer? It seems so unfair. What can be done about this? What are the steps she must take to receive Holy Communion again?

[cappie]

In Australia such a thing could not happen as your marital status must be declared on the papers.

My question is, would it have made any difference if she knew he was divorced, if the answer is yes, what does she want to do now.

When you marry in the Catholic Church you have to come freely and without reservation. This means that if someone conceals an important fact about themselves, one which would effect the marriage, then the marriage can be dissloved, as it was based on a falsehood.

Marriage between baptised Christians freely entered into is a sacrament in the Catholic Church and is indissoluble so long as both partners are alive.