Are all Catholic annulments 'valid'?

Question

I live in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin diocese....that may explain ALOT right there.

I am currently dating a lovely man who feels that his annulment may be invalid due to the 'rubber stamping' that this diocese is well known to do. He asked three priests; all who said "it's valid"...but then one--who said "would you stake the soul of (my name) and yours if you doubt?"

Yuck.

Is there any instance where an annulment is invalid that was properly issued by a marriage tribunal? Or, is my sweetheart 'overthinking' things.

Please substantiate your answers, I REALLY need it!!

Many blessings to you all, and each of you have a blessed Holy Week.

Thank you all for you answers thus far.

Modern Major General makes an excellent point about the sacrament of marriage; being that this occurs b/t the two parties, if bf feels that it isn't valid--perhaps that means there is no annulment even though we have the decree. Food for thought for me.

Thank you Paul. Excellent points as well.

As usual Meg, you come up with the great answers, I read the link; and put me back on 'square one', no?

Answer 1

Apostolic succession means that what Jesus told the apostles holds true through to today- " What you bind on earther shall be bound in Heaven, what you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Think about it this way- even if annulments were rubber stamped....why would the Lord hold you responsible for actions you take based on what you are told by people you should be able to trust? Would it be just if He held you responsible.

God is just. If you act in good faith, don't worry about it.

Answer 2

** Are all Catholic annulments 'valid'? **

Slippery slope for sure, generally done by the state is valid, done by the Church it is not always Valid

Check out the questions and answer from the enclosed
site.

Q1: What is Civil Nullity?
Al: Civil Annulment is a Decree granted by the High Court or
Circuit Court stating that the marriage in question is null and
void and that no valid marriage ever existed. The parties are then single persons in the eyes of the law and are consequently free to remarry following Annulment.

Q2: What is the difference between Divorce and Civil Annulment?
A2: A Divorce Decree declares that a marriage that did exist is now ended and
dissolved, and it deals with the circumstances arising from that marriage, whereas a Civil Annulment
Decree declares a marriage never to have been valid and consequently never to have existed.

Q3: What is the difference between a Civil Annulment and a Church Annulment?
A3:
a) State Law is the law of the country whereas Church Law applies to that particular Church only.
b) Where the Church grants annulments, the couple are still legally married.
c) Church Annulment is not recognised by the State Law.
d) Remarriage following church Annulment may be bigamous; children of such a marriage are regarded as non-marital.
e) The first spouse retains Succession Rights.
f) The first spouse is still regarded as a spouse by the Department of Social Welfare.

Although it is common for a person to seek a Church Annulment before seeking a Civil Annulment,
neither this fact nor the Church Regional Tribunals should have any direct bearing on the outcome of the Civil Case.

Have a pleasant holy week yourself.

Answer 3

I don't believe there is a cost, or if so, just a filing fee or something. I can take years as many Tribunals are backed up and it can take sometime to gather the information they need. I've heard that 3yrs. is not unheard of. It is not automatic, like filing for a divorce. The church has to review the matters and formally decide if they see a defect which existed from the get-go, one that is sufficient to render the entire Marriage invalid from day one. Major examples are: One of you were previous married and didn't divulge that. OR One was hiding a drug addiction. Or one was sterilized and didn't disclose that and led the other person to believe that they could have children. OR One had a mental disability or disorder and didn't disclose that. Those are easy slam dunks. Other issues might be a bit harder to verify. In the end, the Church isn't dissolving the marriage, they are merely acknowledging a fact that existed before hand, but was perhaps unknown at the time. In other words, they are agreeing with the Truth, NOT actually pronouncing anything new. But simply agreeing with reality that, hopefully, "Yeah.. your marriage was never a true Sacramental marriage in the eyes of God" Lastly, it is not guaranteed and some annulments are denied.

Answer 4

There have been a few cases where an annulment has been appealed to Rome and overturned. But most cases that have been appealed have been upheld. Granted that abuses do occur in the system somtimes, and some dioceses are more conservative than others. But that is true of any court system. If the tribunal officially issued a writ of annulment, you can in good conscience accept it as valid. Any other course of action would be extremely difficult and time consuming, and probably would produce no different result.

Answer 5

Your boy friend is having a case of scruples - not believing a sin is forgiven, not believing a consecration was licit, not believing an annulment was valid.

There is an old saying - ecclesia supplet - the church supplies. Basically, what it says is in cases of good will attempts and failures, grace fills in the missing pieces. A priest who is in serious sin still performs a valid consecration. An annulment is valid, whether it is considered for three years or "rubber-stamped."

As long as he did not consciously and purposely withhold anything pertinent and crucial, as long as he did not make any purposeful mis-statements - the annulment is valid.

Tell him to worry about something more serious, like a huge comet striking the earth and killing all the frogs.

Answer 6

The question does not involve the parish priest or his bishop, but rather the two people concerned. If they truly believe an annulment has taken place and are touched by the Holy Spirit in answer to sincere prayer on the matter causing them to believe this, then an annulment has taken place.

The only problem with Catholic policy is that it may not be recognised in law, and a divorce may be the only option.

Answer 7

If the church has granted the annulment then it is valid. I don't think that there's ever a time where an annulment that has been granted by the church is invalid. He's overthinking it, but he could always contact the person on his paperwork and/or the archdiocese office if he has any questions.

Answer 8

If the annulment was properly documented and filed, it is valid.

Remember that it is not a priest who performs a sacramental duty, it is the office the person holds who performs a sacramental duty. Even if the person is a total idiot, it is the office of the tribunal that makes the rulings, not the members of which it is made.

Answer 9

Absolutely

Answer 10

jesus said matt 5.31, it hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

and matt 19 3 - matt 19 11 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=19&version=9