Annulment Witness Testimony Process

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How soon after the witnesses provide their testimony would one hear back from the diocese? And how many people need to submit their testimony? Do the testimonies carry a different weight?

In my specific case, I am stating that I was immature (18 years old) at the time I got married and under undue family pressure to get married because I was pregnant.

My witnesses are my older sibling, a childhood friend, and two mutual friends of my ex and myself. Would my sibling’s testimony carry more weight because they are family?
 
Each witness’ testimony is important.

As an advocate, we are trained that we never set a “timeline” nor expectations.

An investigation is just that, an investigation. We do not know what will come of the investigation, your attempt at marriage may be found null or it may be found valid. It is imperative to simply wait, do not get ahead of things, trust God and praise him whatever the outcome.
 
In my experiences, Tribunals render findings, judgements. They do not issue “assumptions”.
 
This seems to be philosophical question. If we run with it, when the Tribunal receives written testimony, they assume the testimonies were written by human beings, or that they are not all written by one person.

If one chooses to doubt the authority of the Tribunal and it’s judgements, that is one’s prerogative.
 
Not suggesting any doubt of the authority of a marriage tribunal decree. That would be pointless. They carry authority. Only acknowledging the level of that authority, and what that authority relies on, in many cases.

We all know it is not infallible. And we also should know that many cases rely on assumptions, since all testimonies would need to be assumed as truth in order to judge some marriages invalid.

Furthermore, the matter which is trying to be discerned, through a testimony, often has to do with the internal intentions and knowledge of a person. Thus making those judgments always an assumption.
 
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OP, it seems you have to rely on the tribunal assuming you are being sincere. And in that you claim your vow was against your will.

Since you did not suffer against pressure (assuming your vow was insincere) you are now subject to the possibility of not being free to pursue another marriage in the Lord.

So you want the tribunal to believe you are sincere now, when you say you were not sincere before.
 
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Ammi said:
Since you did not suffer against pressure (assuming your vow was insincere) you are now subject to the possibility of not being free to pursue another marriage in the Lord.
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The OP states she was 18 and pregnant at the time of her marriage. Her family was pressuring her to get married. This is often makes a good case for not being free to give full consent.
Can. 1103 A marriage is invalid if entered into because of force or grave fear from without, even if unintentionally inflicted, so that a person is compelled to choose marriage in order to be free from it.
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Because the OP did not suffer against that pressure, she relies on men to assume she wasnt sincere in the vow she made before Jesus.

You see? The judgment is still based on assumption. It’s a matter of internal intentions (unknowable to man) being opposed to an external promise made.

If the OP did not confide her true will with the pastor responsible for overseeing the ceremony, the tribunal is forced to rely on the assumption that she was insincere with her vow before Jesus.
 
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@CPConvert
The only place you will get an specific answer for your case is from your priest or the advocate who is handling your marriage case. Do not be afraid to contact them to ask questions.
 
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Have you ever been a pregnant out of wedlock teenager?

Even without the extenuating circumstance of pregnancy, most of us would attest that we made immature statements in our teens.
 
What is your point?

And what “statement” are you referring to?

A marriage vow against one’s will? That would be quite different than some arbitrary statement.

These questions are asked the bride and groom:
  1. “(Name) and (name), have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?”
  2. “Will you honor each other as man and wife for rest the of your lives?”
  3. "Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his church?”
 
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TheLittleLady said:
Have you ever been a pregnant out of wedlock teenager?
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First of all, you assume I’m not sympathetic of that situation, for some reason.

Second, yes I was that same age, and a gf told me she was pregnant. I prayed and resolved to marry her. Turned out she was not.

And that decision was supported by God, by the way.

Deuteronomy 22

“If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her; he may not put her away all his days."

Though, I’m not saying that law is required of us today. Only that the choice was compelled by Him for His nation.
 
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People can be too immature to give valid consent.

Marriage vows said under undue pressure, for instance the pressure to “get married because I am pregnant” is often found to be defective by competent tribunals. This is why most pastors will not marry a couple where the bride is pregnant, they will delay until after the child is born and the couple has gone through a discernment period.
 
The vow is still insincere. The question: have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage ? is asked. No matter if the father who also entered this marriage and made the vow, yet the female can, at any time claim coercion, despite being asked if they are freely asking Jesus for Blessing, and responded “yes”, receive an assumption from a tribunal? This assumption may be afforded out of “sympathy” rather than evidence.

Yes, the pastor should have inquired about this, and made a report.
 
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Ammi said:
The vow is still insincere. The question: have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage ? is asked. No matter if the father who also entered this marriage and made the vow, yet the female can, at any time claim coercion, despite being asked if they are freely asking Jesus for Blessing, and responded “yes”, receive an assumption from a tribunal?
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Horton said:
Can. 1103 A marriage is invalid if entered into because of force or grave fear from without, even if unintentionally inflicted , so that a person is compelled to choose marriage in order to be free from it.
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This is the answer to your question.

I don’t know if you are effected by a divorce and annulment situation in your life now which is causing you to question everything regarding marital situations or something else. But this is a simple question with a very simple answer. If you feel you need more I suggest you speak to your priest for further guidance.
 
“Unintentional” force is not evidence of force, or that said affliction affected the will.

How is it determined by men, that the will was indeed affected?
 
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If it’s a simple answer, you should know.

I dont need to ask “my priest”. And he doesnt know anyway. Ask yours if you dont believe me.

And that’s a copout to accuse a question as “obsession”. It’s a valid question Catholics should know.
 
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CPConvert,

I sympathize with your situation! Trust me! Can you assume I’m being honest? 😉

Peace to you, in your walk with Jesus.
 
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