Questions on Annulments

I have been seeing some articles on-line about the Pope changing some things in the annulment process.  What is changed and how does it affect the average Catholic who needs to have their marriage situation straightened out?

That is a great question. First, a little background on what led Pope Francis to make the change.

In a short introduction to the new changes, Francis explains that he wanted to balance the church’s timeless worry to provide for the salvation of souls with “the enormous number of faithful that … too often are detached from the juridical structures of the Church at the cause of physical or moral distance.”

“In total harmony with these desires, I have decided to give with this Motu proprio arrangements that do not favor the nullifying of marriages but the promptness of the processes,” states Francis, so that “the heart of the faithful that wait for the clarification of their state may not be oppressed for a long time by the darkness of doubt.”

An annulment in the Catholic church is a decree from a church tribunal that a marriage between two persons was invalidly contracted. First, we should make it clear that these changes do not affect the grounds for an annulment. The grounds for annulment go back to the situation at the time of the marriage vows. So, for example, if one of the parties had no intention of having children (which is one of the things you promise in your marriage vows), then there might be growns for what is properly called a Declaration of Nullity. Or for example, if one of the parties of the marriage never intended to be faithful, that would also be grounds.

There are some significant affects of the changes promulgated by Pope Francis. Here are the three the most significantly impact American Catholics.

1. Previously, annulments had to be reviewed by two Catholic tribunals, took about a year to complete and could be very costly. Now, Catholics who want their marriages annulled only need approval from one tribunal.
2. In addition to lessening the tribunal requirement, the pope gave bishops the authority to decide clear-cut cases on their own
3. Francis also mandates that annulment procedures be made free of charge around the world, and also asks that bishops create some sort of structure in their dioceses that can guide and help separated Catholics considering divorce and/or annulment.