[Torie]

Is the "sin" absolved when the ex spouse dies? Maybe so.

[Restorer]

I haven't a clue. Maybe there's a Catholic on this thread who could answer your question.

Presumably the sin could also be absolved by abandoning the second wife. Although I personally find it difficult to see how two divorces are more moral than one.

I thought it was interesting how the author beat around the bush as to what the answer to the problem he addresses really is. Reading between the lines, he is advocating the abandonment of all Church teaching as to the sinfulness of sex outside of marriage. I'm not sure why he didn't just say so.

[Notwithstanding]

If one is dovirced and marries another, the sin of adultery exists until there is a declaration that the first marriage never existed as a sacramental marriage (anullment - rather different than a divorce in theory).

If the new "spouse" dies or the first spouse (the true spouse) dies, then the condition of sinfulness ends because the adultery no longer exists. But the person must repent and receive sacramental absolution.