piusv:
The first marriage was sacramentally null and void, although maybe the Couple did not seek an annulment at the time due to poor catechesis or just wayward young people who sort of were prodigal sons and daughters. Perhaps they were two graduate students at a University who were doing their graduate thesis or Phd in similar fields and the relationship was based on a purely transactional basis, they were attracted to each other and maybe they saw each other as colleagues and friends doing research together.
The idea of entering into a marriage based on Christian Love, giving oneself to the Other fully never entered the equation when those 2 were in graduate school. One of them who had lapsed got married and over the 2nd marriage, now 30 years or more long started to view marriage in line with Catholic teaching on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
In that case I described above, is it possible (hypothesis) that the person could be admitted to Holy Communion with the understanding that the person (couple) will work with his/her Diocese/local Priest to get the marriage valid sacramentally.
Again, I am only outlining a hypothesis, which in some, not all, maybe not most, cases is a real situation that some Catholics find themselves in.
I think the position I outlined above is consistent with the Eastern Orthodox view and the Catholic Church has never said (at least to my knowledge) at anytime post West/East Schism (1095 AD) that the Orthodox sacraments were not valid.
I still don’t see why this same couple wouldn’t need to seek and receive a valid annulment for the first marriage before receiving communion. Regardless of what they or others think of the first marriage (and their current Christian love) it can not be considered null and void until it is declared such by the Catholic Church. Of course, we still have the added issue that there are way too many annulments granted, but I digress.