131 out of 131 annulment requests granted

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FCGeorge

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I am interested to understand how a diocese can justify making 131 formal decisions in 2011 and concluding in every single case… all 131… that there was not a valid marriage.

I am guessing there are some on here who may defend this as being right or good or just so I would like to understand how it is defended.

How can a respondent (someone whose spouse is asking for an annulment) ever see this 131 out of 131 figure and believe that they have a realistic hope of having their marriage defended?

Also, let’s say your spouse decides to divorce you tomorrow. He/she finalizes the civil divorce next year and requests their annulment the year after. Do you really think that your marriage would be the 1 in 132 that the tribunal judges would rule valid? If not, then are you really not in a valid marriage? Or, does your marriage happen to really truly be valid now but 3 years from now it somehow never really was valid. So in this way it is magically a valid marriage and not a valid marriage at this very point.

If you do think so then what makes you think so? Do you not think that many who received an annulment would have also believed themselves to be in valid marriages before the temptation to divorce hit?

P.S. This is not just the Peoria, IL diocese doing this. There are many others. Also, the 131 out of 131 number comes directly from their own statistics submitted to Rome.

Thanks in advance for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I genuinely desire to understand how this is being rationalized.

Bryan
 
My first marriage (civil) was given a decree of nullity in only three days. I would be curious to know how many of these decrees (“lack of form” it was called in 2007) are part of any diocese’s annulment requests. With so many people leaving the Church in their young adulthood, making – at least in my case – horrible choices, there may also be more people getting into civil marriages, then divorcing, then at some later point returning to the Church and wanting to enter into sacramental marriage.

Wow, now that I’ve typed that, it seems like such wishful thinking…

Beats me what those numbers mean, but the process of granting decrees of nullity in this country has concerned me for a long time.

Gertie
 
Gertabelle said:
My first marriage (civil) was given a decree of nullity in only three days. I would be curious to know how many of these decrees (“lack of form” it was called in 2007) are part of any diocese’s annulment requests. With so many people leaving the Church in their young adulthood, making – at least in my case – horrible choices, there may also be more people getting into civil marriages, then divorcing, then at some later point returning to the Church and wanting to enter into sacramental marriage.

Wow, now that I’ve typed that, it seems like such wishful thinking…

Beats me what those numbers mean, but the process of granting decrees of nullity in this country has concerned me for a long time.

Gertie
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Yours was not a decree of nullity but simply a ‘free to marry’. Your marriage had not been presumed valid and there was nothing to defend.

It’s quite possible that many more than 131 sought advice on an annulment and were told that there were no grounds so they should not bother going through the process. That those 131 were the ones who ‘made the cut’ (so to speak) to be examined by the Tribunal. Those are the numbers we never hear.
 
Do they post these for others to view, for each diocese? I am wondering how mine faired.
I know those who are Catholic, married in the Church, have had no problem with annulments or the ones I know.
I don’t even want to think about it. It is probably the same where you are, the rates. 100%
 
FCGeorge said:
I am interested to understand how a diocese can justify making 131 formal decisions in 2011 and concluding in every single case… all 131… that there was not a valid marriage.
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Bryan,

You are light on details. Where is the official diocesan news article that supports this post?
 
My answer is anecdotal, but I knew a priest some years ago who was also a psychologist. He counseled couples in troubled marriages, and in some instances would also prepare and submit cases to the tribunal for annulments. He told me he would not submit a case for annulment unless he was certain (based on his experience) that it would be granted. In other words, the reason every case is apparently approved is because of the preparation before the tribunal ever saw the case. If this priest I knew determined that a troubled marriage was still valid, he would not submit it for annulment.
 
Phemie said:
Yours was not a decree of nullity but simply a ‘free to marry’. Your marriage had not been presumed valid and there was nothing to defend.

It’s quite possible that many more than 131 sought advice on an annulment and were told that there were no grounds so they should not bother going through the process. That those 131 were the ones who ‘made the cut’ (so to speak) to be examined by the Tribunal. Those are the numbers we never hear.
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Well, the paperwork from the tribunal actually says “decree of nullity” so that’s why I used that phrase. Whether or not it would be reported among the annulments is beyond my knowledge base 🤷

Gertie
 
Not having all the information it’s really hard to make any kind of comment. We must pray for these tribunals to have the wisdom of Solomn.

mlz
 
If the diocese makes these numbers available they must include some additional information. What do they have to say about it?
 
The main reason for all the annulments is porn addiction. Men addicted to porn are getting married and these are incapable of fulfilling their obligation to fidelity. Their vow to be faithful was null before it was even given.

If the diocese of Peoria, IL granted 131 annulments then exactly 131 of them are none of our business.

-Tim-
 
christofirst said:
My answer is anecdotal, but I knew a priest some years ago who was also a psychologist. He counseled couples in troubled marriages, and in some instances would also prepare and submit cases to the tribunal for annulments. He told me he would not submit a case for annulment unless he was certain (based on his experience) that it would be granted. In other words, the reason every case is apparently approved is because of the preparation before the tribunal ever saw the case. If this priest I knew determined that a troubled marriage was still valid, he would not submit it for annulment.
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Yes, people can be dissuaded by a priest or deacon from filing if that priest or deacon feels the case is not going to have a favorable outcome. That is why all Catholics seeking to have their marriage annuled should insist on finding someone who will file the paperwork for them if they so desire to pursue this avenue. The tribunal should be the final decision maker ,not someone doing an inital evaluation that spends an hour or so. The process is hugely time consuming with witnesses and testimony to every aspect of the marriage and no one unless they are willing to listen for hours can really advocate one way or the other in my opinion.

Mary.
 
TimothyH said:
The main reason for all the annulments is porn addiction. Men addicted to porn are getting married and these are incapable of fulfilling their obligation to fidelity. Their vow to be faithful was null before it was even given.

If the diocese of Peoria, IL granted 131 annulments then exactly 131 of them are none of our business.

-Tim-
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Were they not properly vetted before getting married?

Why is “porn addiction” allowed to be a reason to annul marriages?
 
It’s quite possible that many more than 131 sought advice on an annulment and were told that there were no grounds so they should not bother going through the process. That those 131 were the ones who ‘made the cut’ (so to speak) to be examined by the Tribunal. Those are the numbers we never hear.
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Hello Phemie,

I wondered that at first as well. However, the head of the tribunal for at least the last 20 years told me that everyone and anyone who petitions has a right to have their marriage reviewed. There is no “vetting” going on. This doesn’t seem right to me, however, as faithful spouses and their witnesses should not be dragged through this process unless there is ample evidence to warrant it.

Many priests are definitely not discouraging the “seeking” of an annulment. Try it. Go to a few priests and say that you are civilly divorced and are lonely. I imagine we are at the point where 90% of them will advise you to seek an annulment without asking any more questions.

I know that there are a few priests who do not do this. I have spoken to a couple. I am definitely not condemning all. However, the vast majority of the ones I have spoken to simply promote the annulment path.

Yours in the Precious Blood,

Bryan
 
FCGeorge said:
How can a respondent (someone whose spouse is asking for an annulment) ever see this 131 out of 131 figure and believe that they have a realistic hope of having their marriage defended?
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Since in almost every case the respondents and the petitioners are already divorced, why would a respondent have "a hope of having their marriage defended’? What difference would it make to them.
 
FCGeorge said:
Hello Phemie,

I wondered that at first as well. However, the head of the tribunal for at least the last 20 years told me that everyone and anyone who petitions has a right to have their marriage reviewed. There is no “vetting” going on. This doesn’t seem right to me, however, as faithful spouses and their witnesses should not be dragged through this process unless there is ample evidence to warrant it.

Many priests are definitely not discouraging the “seeking” of an annulment. Try it. Go to a few priests and say that you are civilly divorced and are lonely. I imagine we are at the point where 90% of them will advise you to seek an annulment without asking any more questions.

I know that there are a few priests who do not do this. I have spoken to a couple. I am definitely not condemning all. However, the vast majority of the ones I have spoken to simply promote the annulment path.

Yours in the Precious Blood,

Bryan
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I wish there were valid stats kept by those “gatekeeper” priest or deacons how many people they actually counsel to go ahead and promote the annulment path. It should be 100% for any person who so desires to do so; they should also be aware of their right to appeal a decision. It is their right as a Catholic to have a marriage evaluated by the tribunal for validity. This will effect them for the rest of their life as far as their ability to remarry validly in the Church.

90% is too low in my opinion.

Mary.
 
felsguy said:
Since in almost every case the respondents and the petitioners are already divorced, why would a respondent have "a hope of having their marriage defended’? What difference would it make to them.
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Because the Church doesn’t respond to “civil” pressure…?

Maybe marriage is, in fact, sacred?
 
MaryT777 said:
I wish there were valid stats kept by those “gatekeeper” priest or deacons how many people they actually counsel to go ahead and promote the annulment path. It should be 100% for any person who so desires to do so; they should also be aware of their right to appeal a decision. It is their right as a Catholic to have a marriage evaluated by the tribunal for validity. This will effect them for the rest of their life as far as their ability to remarry validly in the Church.

90% is too low in my opinion.

Mary.
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So if you feel like it, marriage should be annulled?

Why were these marriage (in a Catholic Church) allowed in the first place?
 
EIF5A said:
So if you feel like it, marriage should be annulled?

Why were these marriage (in a Catholic Church) allowed in the first place?
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This is an excellent point. Perhaps the better approach would be to spend some time before persons are married determining if the marriage is valid not later down the road after years of marriage and children that are involved.

Mary.
 
Honestly, there’s a reason why people call decrees of nullity to be “Church divorces”. Honestly, many respondents don’t even bother to reply, as the “annulment” often doesn’t mean anything to them, one way or the other. There are true grounds for an annulment, as in cases where one party had no true intention of keeping the marital vows. Prenups are generally grounds for decrees of nullity, as one partner is assuming that the other partner won’t be able to keep his/her vows. But… an annulment after a “no fault” divorce - when the couple broke up due to a minor argument? Seriously.
 
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