I would suggest that the advocate be the one to explain things to the person pursuing the decree of nullity.What is the best way to explain the lengthy annulment questionnaire? Many think its questions are too personal and the charge of a fee is ludicrous. How can I alleviate their concerns and explain the purpose of it all?
I would remind them that less than 50 years ago, Catholics had to apply to the Vatican for an annulment. The average wait was five years and only one out of five were granted.What is the best way to explain the lengthy annulment questionnaire? Many think its questions are too personal and the charge of a fee is ludicrous. How can I alleviate their concerns and explain the purpose of it all?
Wow! The Vatican! Good point and great reminder. Thank you.I would remind them that less than 50 years ago, Catholics had to apply to the Vatican for an annulment. The average wait was five years and only one out of five were granted.
Thanks for sharing! Good story. Don’t get discouraged. Satan would love that I’m sure!They are quite intrusive. I originally got my petition papers in January 2012. My husband could not deal with all of the information they were asking. Finally, my husband agreed as he knew that I was quite disappointed that I could not receive communion. That was the summer of 2013. It took awhile to get all of my papers together and just had them sent in. Now, we wait.
I am a cradle Catholic and returned home after being gone for a very long time. My mother was always religious, but none of us were.(five children) I was just too lazy to go to church. I adopted the belief, as long as I was a good person, that I did not need church. And, also, only prayed when I needed something.
This whole process is quite humbling.
My husband was married in Catholic church, although, he is not catholic. He was baptized in Orthodox church, but never received any other sacraments. His family was not a church going family. And, neither was his former wife’s family. They only married in church to have a traditional style wedding.
I was never married in church. I am wondering if these questions are asked prior to marrying in church.
I can understand the fee, as there are lawyers working on it. And, the fee can be paid in payments.
Hello,I would remind them that less than 50 years ago, Catholics had to apply to the Vatican for an annulment. The average wait was five years and only one out of five were granted.
Those filling for an annulment need to reminder that the process is equivalent to a trial. The process has the state side(the Church) auguring against the annulment and the defense side (the one asking for the annulment)What is the best way to explain the lengthy annulment questionnaire? Many think its questions are too personal and the charge of a fee is ludicrous. How can I alleviate their concerns and explain the purpose of it all?
Um, no, most dioceses did not have tribunals for this purpose. That all came about after Vatican II.Hello,
I’m not sure where you heard this (your first statement). It’s not true. Of course, it was always possible to approach the Holy See for a judgment but the local diocesan tribunal could handle cases.
Dan
Hello,Um, no, most dioceses did not have tribunals for this purpose. That all came about after Vatican II.
But as the article that I linked to indicated that very few American dioceses, to say nothing of dioceses in other countries, were equipped to handle matrimonial cases, despite the 1936 instruction. Thus, it is misleading to suggest that people could obtain annulments locally at that point, when on a practical level, most could not. This is widely known. It was not until after Vatican II that the vast majority of American dioceses began to establish court procedures for this purpose. Nearly all marriage cases in America went to Rome prior to that.Hello,
I don’t know what percentage of dioceses had functioning tribunals (if that is what you are getting at) but the statement that people “had to” approach the Holy See for a marriage nullity trial is not correct. The Holy See issued the Instruction Provida mater ecclesia in 1936, giving diocesan tribunals specific, procedural instructions on how to handle matrimonial cases.
Dan
Medical doctors routinely ask questions that “seem very intrusive,” too. Yet, they’re necessary in order to understand the state of the patient’s health.I’d like to know the answer to this too. When I looked at the list of questions they seemed very intrusive.
Part of the process of marriage preparation includes an interview with a priest or deacon. In the course of that interview, similar questions are asked, with the intent of discerning whether the fiancees have an understanding of Christian marriage that matches the Church’s understanding. In the case of a proceeding for a declaration of nullity, the intent to reach a similar discernment is present; but, given the difference in circumstances (i.e., asking about an event (potentially) years or decades in the past), the particular questions that must be asked in order to reach an understanding are quite naturally somewhat different.I was never married in church. I am wondering if these questions are asked prior to marrying in church.
With regard to the fee, discuss that with your advocate. If it will cause an undue burden, there may be ways of setting up a payment plan, waiving the fees, etc.What is the best way to explain the lengthy annulment questionnaire? Many think its questions are too personal and the charge of a fee is ludicrous. How can I alleviate their concerns and explain the purpose of it all?
Hello,But as the article that I linked to indicated that very few American dioceses, to say nothing of dioceses in other countries, were equipped to handle matrimonial cases, despite the 1936 instruction. Thus, it is misleading to suggest that people could obtain annulments locally at that point, when on a practical level, most could not. This is widely known. It was not until after Vatican II that the vast majority of American dioceses began to establish court procedures for this purpose. Nearly all marriage cases in America went to Rome prior to that.
Sorry, here it is. Look at #7, sections d-f.Hello,
I don’t see a link. I’d be interested to see it.
Dan
Thanks. I think I’ve seen that before, actually, and wondered then who wrote it. I still wonder. Anyway, I’ve seen USA tribunal statistics from 1968 and the vast majority of dioceses had tribunals which were handling marriage cases (see CLSA Proceedings for 1969, pp. 149-155). Yes, they had (compared to the 1970s-today) few cases but they were judging them. For example, Chicago had about 150 cases waiting to be decided. Orlando, a diocese that was just erected earlier in 1968, had 5 cases. Etc.