8 Worrisome Myths About Divorce And Annulments Most Catholics Don’t Realize Are Bogus

2.    Divorced Catholics Cannot Receive The Sacraments Until They Receive An Annulment

False. If you are civilly divorced without an annulment, but you are in a state of grace, you are welcome and encouraged to attend Mass and other parish functions and receive the sacraments as often as you can.

What prohibits a divorced Catholic, or anyone for that matter, from receiving the Eucharist is not being in a state of grace due to grave sin. Anyone – married, never-married, widowed, divorced, religious – who is not in the state of grace due to grave sin is prohibited from receiving Holy Communion (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1385). This is a standard set forth for us all.