When we first approached Fr. McCormack about diving into some of those issues that Catholics need to become better informed on, he said "That's great, lets start with "annulments". It seems that there's a great deal of confusion about what is considered right and wrong by the Church on this topic. So here are some facts, some advice, and some links to additional information. Please feel free to share this information with others, particularly those affected by this issue. Check back in September when we will be covering our next topic.
| If my marriage is declared null my children will be illegitimate. |
| Annulments take years to complete. |
| Annulments cost thousands of dollars and are given only to the rich and . |
| Annulments are always granted, especially in the United States. The "American Church" is at variance with the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. |
| Annulments are hardly ever obtained. |
| The Catholic Church thinks that all non-Catholic marriages are invalid. |
| Only marriages lasting a few months and without children are considered for the annulment process. |
From On Marriage And Annulments in the Roman Catholic Church
Taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
1625 The parties of a marriage covenant are a baptized man and woman, free to contract marriage, who freely express their consent; "to be free" means:
- not being under constraint;
- not impeded by any natural or ecclesiastical law.
1626 The Church holds the exchange of consent between the spouses to be the indispensable element that "makes the marriage."125 If consent is lacking there is no marriage.
1627 The consent consists in a "human act by which the partners mutually give themselves to each other": "I take you to be my wife" - "I take you to be my husband."126 This consent that binds the spouses to each other finds its fulfillment in the two "becoming one flesh."127
1628 The consent must be an act of the will of each of the contracting parties, free of coercion or grave external fear.128 No human power can substitute for this consent.129 If this freedom is lacking the marriage is invalid.
1629 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.130 In this case the contracting parties are free to marry, provided the natural obligations of a previous union are discharged.
From the desk of Fr. McCormack...
.....In the Spring of 1998 the Office of Parish Social Ministry of the Diocese of Toledo initiated a family mediation program. This program is designed in part to help resolve conflicts dealing with separation and divorce, child custody issues, blended families, shared parenting, and parent/child conflicts. For more information, contact Catholic Charities at (800)926-8277 or e-mail at mediation@toledodiocese.org.
.....Documents needed for annulment: recent Baptismal Certificate for Catholic parties with all notations - Civil Application for Marriage License (Not License itself, but APPLICATION for License) - Catholic Marriage Certificate (Fopr a Catholic Marriage) - Civil Divorce/Dissolution Decree (The original or a certified copy) - Complete Separation Agreement (if applicable) - Legal Change of Name (if not documented in divorce/dissolution decree).
.....Need at least four witnesses who would be able to offer testimony through the mail. People who are familiar with the marriage and the reasons/causes for the break-up.
.....Cost of processing a formal case in the Diocese of Toledo is presently $650.00. However, the petitioner is asked to contribute only $250.00 toward the total costs. A non-refundable $50.00 filing charge must accompany each formal case submitted to the Toledo Tribunal. This will be applied to the $250.00 fee. NO PERSON WILL BE DENIED THE SERVICES OF THE TRIBUNAL BECAUSE OF AN INABILITY TO PAY THE STIPULATED FEE.
.....The Procurator Advocate is the person (priest, deacon, trained lay person) who will assist the petitioner in the presentation of the case.
.....Reasons for a lengthy annulment case? Slow response of witnesses to return testimony questions. Failure to acquire and return the necessary documents.