But what I am still not getting is why the Catholic Church wouldn’t let my brother in law convert, given that at the time he had no option to marry in the church since it still recognized his first marriage that couldn’t be annulled which he’d have done in a New York minute were it possible?
I’m not asking why they wouldn’t marry them, I understand that part, but don’t get the refusal to allow the conversion if he really wanted to become Catholic? It’s not as if an untold number of born-Catholics and other Christians aren’t ‘living in sin.’ I’d think any church would welcome someone who seeks salvation there.
I’m almost sorry I asked, and I thank you for your civil response. It’s bothered me on and off for ten years now, and the similarity of circumstances between these two marital histories and conversions seemed to make it a viable question.
Please re-read my response. There’s more to the original story than you are presenting.
Catholic priests can not instruct ministers of other faiths to annul marriages, and would not care if they did. When you are confirmed into the Catholic faith, ALL previous sins are forgiven by Christ. Your sister was never married, as far as the Church was concerned.