From what my local parish has told me, in the eyes of the church, I am not married now.
And again, I do not disagree with the Catholic Church or the positions they hold, but their positions I can not abide by or that I find too restrictive, Granted, it is a state by state position, but isn't that in and of itself a contradiction? I mean, it's right or wrong, right? So I am left with a choice.
Many may not agree with my choice, but I will leave it to God to decide. So, if the Catholic Church considers me to be an adulterer because I have divorced and remarried, so be it,I'll let God decide that. After all, Maryland may but Pennsylvania may not? Again, God knows me better than all and I'll let him decide before any one human or board of them (with or without fees) does. So be it (Amen)
Serious, Wha'? here. State by state or diocese by diocese? It sounds like you almost fell into the teeth of the Catholic machine. Others are tired of my saying it, but the old line is, "I don't believe in organized religion; I'm a Catholic."
Many may not agree with my choice, but I will leave it to God to decide.
Always a good idea. Well, FWIW, my advice is keep nagging Him about it.
before any one human or board of them (with or without fees)
And that would be one of the things to nag him about. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels," which is to say, the Church thinks of itself (rightly IMHO) as having apostolic authority and the gifts necessary to exercise that authority. ON the other hand, few humans are so very human as a bunch of ecclesiastical bureaucrats. It is as true in the Church as in the world that 100 IQ is average.
It is always appropriate to nag God. Remember the widow.
I am currently going through the annullment process. For me it is "easy" because I married a divorced Catholic against the advice of several people including a priest. We were married by a Justice of the Peace so it is about Canonical form. (ah, to be young and stupid)
His (my ex) first marriage was in the Church, his other three were in front of JPs. While he says he doesn't have a problem with the annullment per say... all other statements he makes say that he does. His complaint is that "they are suppose to be about forgiveness and people make mistakes". He has this warped idea that annullment makes children from the marriages illegitimate. Even ours.... As a bonus, my annullment should be final on what would have been our 25th.
OTOH, I know a non-Catholic who has been married three times, all by ministers.
The appearance to the casual observer is that non-Catholic clergy take the sacrament of marriage less seriously.
The thing that people really, really overlook is marriage is not a sacrament with the Catholic Church but a covenant between a man and a woman. Not a contract to be broken or renegotiated. Since we live in a society of disposables, marriage becomes another disposable commodity easily cast aside at the first sign of discontent.
I’m puzzled by your saying that a decision of the Catholic Church is a state by state decision.
Did you mean case by individual case decision?
All countries, all states abide by the same Catholic Church laws.
Another thought — Don’t God’s laws come before any human’s laws?