How would someone go about becoming an annulment advocate? What kind of training is required? I recently went through the annulment process and found it very healing. I would like to volunteer to help others going through the process as an advocate or assistant advocate. I am a technical writer by trade, I have a Master’s degree in computers but am willing to take courses in Canon Law or others as required. Are there any online institutions that offer these types of courses?
Thank you
I don’t know that I’ve heard of an “annulment advocate” before. (Not to say they don’t exist, just that I haven’t heard of one before.)
Here are a few suggestions, for what they’re worth.
On a parish level, you could talk to your priest to see what he recommends. You might set up some type of support group in your parish. Since you are a writer, you could maybe write a bulletin insert to be distributed one Sunday, or a pamphlet that might be left in the vestibule for people to take.
On a diocesan level, you could contact the marriage tribunal for your diocese and ask what they recommend. (Since you went through the process yourself, you probably already know how to contact them). They would probably be best able to tell you what you need to do and where you can go.
As far as where to go, the
Catholic Distance University offers online courses and I believe they have one on Canon Law.
Here are some helpful resources for the basics on annulments:
These are beginner-level books, so, having gone through the process, they may not offer much to you in the way of new information, but perhaps they explain things in new ways that would be helpful for you. If nothing else, they may make good books to recommend to the people you minister to.
Also, the relevant part of Canon Law is
canons 1671-1707. That would be the main part to be familiar with. You would probably also want to be familiar with the section on Marriage (
canons 1055-1165, particularly
canons 1095-1107)
