Annulments

[Madaglan]

Question on annulments:

It seems to me that the vast majority of annulments today are at the petition of one of the members of the couple. This I can understand in certain cases, since an impediment is unwillingness (being coerced into it). According to the Latin tradition, the two persons being married are ministers of the sacrament, so if there is a misguided intention by either party, there is reason for annulment.

However, has or can the Latin Church grant an annulment when none of the two parties involved requests for it? For example, let’s say a “father-in-law,” subsequent to research, has reason to believe that his daughter has married a half-brother. His daughter and her husband are happily married, so they believe. Can the “father-in-law” petition Rome to declare an annulment?

If my memory serves me well, one of Martin Luther’s criticisms of annulments was directed against impediments that others (besides the couples themselves) used to break up what Luther saw as marriages ordained by God.

Thanks

 

[VeronicaAnne]

I seriously doubt it. This is because one of the spouses has to be the one to start the ball rolling by first going to a priest, who will give them info on how to contact the Diocese’s Tribunal.

 

[cameron_lansing]

. . .
However, has or can the Latin Church grant an annulment when none of the two parties involved requests for it?
Thanks

Yes. See canon 1674: The following are capable of challenging a marriage: 1º the spouses; 2º the promoter of justice when the nullity has become public, if the marriage cannot be convalidated or this is not expedient.

 

[Madaglan]

Thank you for the canon. That is very interesting!

 

[YADA]

Is there any civil jurisdiction [city, county, state] where half siblings can marry legally?

Some states allow first cousins to marry others do not … I’ve never heard of a jurisdiction that would allow half siblings to marry and I am pretty sure that no catholic priest would marry half siblings [and this relationship would be too close for Canon Law to recognize] no matter what …

Thus if half - siblings married in the church - I don’t think it could be viewed by the church as sacramentally valid - once that fact became known - how it would be dealt with is beyond my ability to conjecture … however it seems way beyond a common problem …

Of Course there is always our culural influences and civil marriage is in flux in our current “any thing goes” society. Thus I am sure it will be legal somewhere if it is not already …

Can I ask - what prompted this scenario for you? Or don’t I want to know