Pope Benedict has stated that "Catholics who remarry without first getting an annulment" will not remain in "good standing" in the church, i.e., they will not be able to receive Holy Communion and other Sacraments. The dictionary defines the word annulment as "The invalidation of a marriage, as for nonconsummation, effected by means of a declaration stating that the marriage was never valid." Does that not mean that any children born of this "invalid" marriage are "illegitimate", and therefore not recognized by the church? I find it very arrogant of the church to dictate that for a price, and by their rules, you can get an annulment from the church, and everything is hunky-dory. Any comments would be appreciated--I'm really trying to understand where they are coming from.
2007-03-14 06:23:33 · 8 answers · asked by Thomas M 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ya i read that article yesterday an yahoo too.. i couldnt believe this guy.. i really dont think this is the way to get people back into the faith...
did you read too that jhon kerry cant get communion because he supports abortion??? bull sh*t!
i dont get it either... i find it insulting to people of faith.
2007-03-14 06:29:03 · answer #1 · answered by Loathing 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"In the case of the Roman Catholic Church, annulment does not mean the same thing as divorce. Some accuse the Catholic Church of hypocrisy for preaching that all marriages are permanent but providing the means of annulment. The Church attempts to reconcile these two seeming opposing ideas by understanding that a "Declaration of Nullity" is not a dissolution of a marriage, but rather to determine whether a marriage was a sacrament (valid) or contrary in some way to Divine Law as understood by the Catholic Church. While some may try to use an annulment to get around the "no divorce" rule, that is not the reason the Church gives for the availability of annulment. According to the Church, an annulment affirms the Scriptural basis of divorce and at the same time affirms that in a true marriage, a man and a woman become one flesh before the eyes of God. The Church's teaching on marriage is that it is a Sacrament and that it is only validly contracted by the two individuals, so questions may arise as to whether that person is able to contract a valid marriage. In the Western tradition, the ministers of the marriage are the two individuals themselves, and the priest is a witness for the Church.
“ For this reason (or for other reasons that render the marriage null and void) the Church, after an examination of the situation by the competent ecclesiastical tribunal, can declare the nullity of a marriage, i.e., that the marriage never existed.132 In this case the contracting parties are free to marry, provided the natural obligations of a previous union are discharged. -Catechism of the Catholic Church #1629 ”
Marriages that are annulled under the Catholic Church are usually considered as void ab initio, meaning that the marriage has been essentially invalid from the beginning. Some Catholics therefore worry that their children will be considered illegitimate if they get an annulment. However, Canon 1137 of the Code of Canon Law specifically affirms the legitimacy of children born in both recognized and putative marriages (those later declared null). Critics point to this as additional evidence that a Catholic annulment is similar to divorce — although civil laws that recognized both annulments and divorce regard the offspring of a putative marriage as legitimate.
An annulment verified by the Catholic Church is independent from obtaining a civil divorce, although before beginning a process in front of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal, it has to be clear that the marriage community cannot be rebuilt.
If someone has all the signs of being married previously, he or she must get an annulment before entering into a marriage in the Catholic Church, even if the individual was not married in the Catholic Church previously. Catholics acknowledge the indissolubility of marriage for any baptized persons who give themselves freely in the bond of marriage and recognize the marriages of other Christians in most cases.
A common misconception is that if a marriage is annulled, the Catholic Church is saying the marriage never took place. This is a grave misconception. The parties to the marriage know very well that the marriage took place. The Church is saying that the marriage was not valid. The valid marriage is what did not take place. There is a very real difference in those two."
2007-03-14 06:32:57 · answer #2 · answered by coco_loco 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The pope statement is basic Catholic teaching that has been around for centuries.
The children of a marriage that is annulled are not illigitimate. The marriage was a LEGAL marriage, so the children are legitimate. The marriage was never a SACRAMENTAL or HOLY marriage.
The children of a marriage that is later annulled are fully recognized by the Church and are still in good standing.
Yes, there are costs associated with annullments because testimony from witnesses must be taken, papers need to be filed, etc, just as in a civil trial.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
2007-03-14 08:58:14 · answer #3 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no price to recieving an annullment. You don't pay a fee and your marriage disappears.
An annullment means that the marriage never existed. Period. This can only happen if it is established that there was no love in the marriage - the marriage was not based in love.
Yes - children suffer because of this. This is why a marriage in the first place needs to be will thought out before hand. Not rushed into. But doesn't a divorce affect children negatively also?
2007-03-14 06:34:16 · answer #4 · answered by noncrazed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All children of a marriage that has ben declared null If are still considered legitimate and retain all legal rights. (Canon 1137). http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P43.HTM
The Catholic Church believes that God does not recognize civil divorces.
Jesus said, "Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." (Mark 10:9)
However there may be hope of a declaration of nullity.
The term "annulment" is a misnomer because the Church does not undo or erase a marriage bond.
Rather the Church issues a declaration of nullity when it discovers that the parties were not truly joined by God and hence a full spiritual sacramental marriage as understood by the Church was not present.
Then the parties are free to marry for the first time.
With love in Christ.
2007-03-14 17:32:16 · answer #5 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is actually going backwards. Recent years the church had been more easy going about granting annulments and not making the kids illegitimate. I do believe any children from that union will still be consider illegitmate. This is a way to keep people married. It doesn't fit with today's marriages, people should not stay in unhealthly abusive relationships. (The law/gov.'t still sees the kids as legal and such.) The church is not being realistic about marriages with this decreed.
2007-03-14 06:31:11 · answer #6 · answered by Pantherempress 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the children born into that marriage will be seen as legitimate. However, I'm Catholic and didn't know the Pope said this nor do I care. He is alienating people with his words and he is no John Paul II. Don't worry so much about it, the Church is sometimes outdated in its thoughts and many Catholics like me living in the United States don't follow everything the Pope says. We have our own lives.
2007-03-16 02:58:05 · answer #7 · answered by cynical 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is part of the reason why protestantism is alive and well today!
2007-03-14 09:01:17 · answer #8 · answered by studentofword84 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋