We are not Catholic but my son goes to Catholic school. In his religion book, which I was reading, it described what an annulment meant. The church will grant an annulment for a marriage that has ended legally in divorce if the Church tribunal determines that the marriage vows were invalid from the begining - where one or both persons were not able to make a valid vow.
My friend's sister was married for almost 17 years with two kids. Her husband & her got a divorce. She met someone else a year or so later who would not marry her unless she got an annulment, which the Church granted - for a price I might add. The kids were very upset as were the rest of the family. It seems funny that after all that time, the Church can just say they were never legally married. What does that say about the kids, now 17 and 13. Bastards? Doesn't seem right to me.I can see after a year or 2 with no kids but even then, how can you prove you were not able to make a valid vow & what does that mean?
2007-05-12 11:24:47 · 10 answers · asked by lilith663 6 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Went to catholic school for 6yrs, am still catholic,
married in a catholic church, but still disagree with
many of the catholic teachings. I married my wife
from my heart and from my God point of view, and
I did it in a church, so the religion title did not give
me my marriage, my faith and my love for my wife
gave me the marriage. Yes a Priest did what he
was supposed to do but he he is not the one to
bless the marriage, God is. I say that to say this,
people can be married thru faith, not religion, and
if it is legal in God's eyes then no man can state
what is or what is not.
2007-05-12 16:27:14 · answer #1 · answered by RudiA 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
+ Nullity +
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.
+ Children +
The procedure is the same whether or not there are children in the marriage. If a declarations of nullity is granted then the children are still considered legitimate and retain all legal rights (Canon 1137).
+ Costs +
About the cost of nullity, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles states:
A Petitioner is responsible for only a portion of the costs of a case. The faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles substantially subsidize the operation of the Tribunal through their parish contributions. For efficiency, the office must be staffed with trained and qualified priests, canon lawyers, support staff and equipment, all of which is costly.
For a formal trial of invalidity, a Petitioner is asked to pay $500.00, which is payable as follows: a non-refundable filing fee of $100.00, and the balance of $400.00, in installments if necessary, upon final notice of an affirmative decision. The outcome of a case is not contingent upon a Petitioner's ability to pay the fee. If there is financial difficulty, a Petitioner should make this known to the Tribunal.
Let the tribunal know that you cannot pay the fee and they whould be able to make arrangements that are ameniable to everyone involved.
http://www.archdiocese.la/prayer/sacraments/tribunal/faq.html#13
+ With love in Christ.
2007-05-12 20:00:54 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An annulment does not make children of a marriage bastards, any more than does a civil decree of divorce, as legitimacy or illegitimacy is a civil (non-church) distinction governed by civil law. If the couple was legally married, their children remain legitimate. The difference here is sacramental validity vs. legal in a civil sense; the state recognizes a legal marriage (and also a divorce), but certain conditions must be met for the church to consider any sacrament valid, including marriage.
The length of time a couple is married really isn't a factor at all, because the church will grant an annulment only if it is satisfied that AT THE TIME OF THE MARRIAGE there was an impediment to one or both partners entering into binding vows. Adultery after the fact, for example, wouldn't by itself be a reason to grant annulment (although it's definitely considered a sin).
The "price" you mentioned is a legal fee, much like your friend's sister needed to pay an attorney to get her civil divorce. Annulments are far from "rubber stamps" in the church; they are investigated by a diocesan tribunal of canon lawyers, a process that can take quite some time. No one is ever denied an annulment on the basis of inability to pay the customary fee, however. Couples who are getting married usually have no qualms about giving an offering to the officiating pastor, in or out of the Catholic church, so to balk at "paying" for an annulment makes even less sense -- as the process is far more complex than witnessing a couple's wedding vows.
2007-05-12 12:53:11 · answer #3 · answered by Clare † 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am Catholic but I totally agree with you, I got a divorce, never got remarried but if I did I would not get an annulment and go through the church again because I don't agree with that. I would probably just do justice of the peace. I don't agree with alot of things the Catholic church follows.
2007-05-12 13:50:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means don't become Catholic. They have ways of doing things that benefit them and them alone.... It's all a bunch of BS. I'm Catholic and getting so turned off by ROME
2007-05-12 12:07:58 · answer #5 · answered by westfield47130 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All that means is that see can marry catholic again and he would have to adopt the kids. Yeah I agree, I'm no longer catholic but the church doesn't recolonize my marriage due to not getting married in a church.
2007-05-12 11:31:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i am catholic and what it means is that he married out side of his faith and he was not married in the catholic church, because in their eyes u r only married if you are married through the church it does not mean the children are bastards because i too am going through this it just kinda wipes your slate clean for a new start. every religion has it's good and bad points.
2007-05-12 11:39:37 · answer #7 · answered by lil sioux 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally I don't believe that the Catholic church has the right to make that determination. Because when you say your wedding vows before God, they are valid vows.
2007-05-12 11:28:56 · answer #8 · answered by Bryan M 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
An annulment means the marraige never took place. It's like crossing your fingers and lying.
2007-05-12 12:05:49 · answer #9 · answered by seahorse 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ohh bryan love u soo right......
2007-05-12 11:33:18 · answer #10 · answered by ~i love my boys~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋