The catholic church does not recognize a D as an end to a M. They only recognize whether the M was valid or not. A D is nothing more than a legal peice of paper to the church.
If I don't seek an answer to whether or not my M is valid, then I am simply left with questions about it and the church will still recognize it as valid regardless of D unless they look at all the circumstances and make a ruling, at which point I know for sure where the M stands.
And yes, if they rule it was invalid from the beginning, I am "free" as you put it to seek out a new R. If they rule it was valid from the beginning which is all they are technically supposed to look at, then I am not free according to the church to seek out a R. The M still stands even if the civil system says otherwise. I couldn't feel comfortable marrying someone else down the road if the church says my original M is valid.
Kevin
Me 36, W 37 M: 08/02/97 D13, D9 1st Bomb 02/08 Reconciled 04/08 2nd Bomb: 09/08 W filed for D 02/04/09 Separated 03/09 D dismissed 06/09/09 Still separated...
