In the eyes of the Catholic Church, the validity of a marriage between a Catholic and an Anglican (or any other non-Catholic Christian) depends on several factors:
* Canonical Form: The Catholic Church requires Catholics to marry in a Catholic church, before a Catholic priest or deacon, and two witnesses. This is called "canonical form."
* Dispensation from Form: A Catholic can obtain a dispensation from the requirement of canonical form from their bishop. This allows them to marry validly in a non-Catholic church (like an Anglican church). The bishop grants this dispensation for a just reason, often to accommodate the non-Catholic party and their family.
* Other Requirements: Both parties must be free to marry (not already married, not related too closely, etc.) and enter the marriage freely and with the intention of a lifelong, exclusive, and procreative union.
Therefore, in the situation described:
* If the Catholic obtained a dispensation from form: The marriage is considered valid by the Catholic Church, assuming all other requirements for a valid marriage are met.
* If the Catholic did NOT obtain a dispensation from form: The Catholic Church does NOT recognize the marriage as valid. The Catholic would be considered to be living in a state of sin.
Important Considerations:
* Consult with a Catholic Priest: If a Catholic is considering marriage to a non-Catholic, it is crucial that they speak with their parish priest. The priest can explain the requirements for a valid marriage in the Catholic Church, help with the dispensation process, and provide guidance.
* Annulment: If a Catholic marries a non-Catholic without a dispensation and later wishes to marry in the Catholic Church, they would likely need to seek an annulment of the first marriage.
In short, a marriage between a Catholic and an Anglican in an Anglican church is only considered valid by the Catholic Church if the Catholic obtained a dispensation from canonical form beforehand.