Anyone have statistics on annulments requested versus annulments granted?

[TrueLight]

It sometimes feel to me that annulments have become the Catholic divorce as some claim.

I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but I do.

It seems to me that unless both parties were devout Catholics, when married, there can always be found some sort of past impediment that make the marriage fall into one of these categories.

Taken from Wikipedia just because it’s easy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annulment

• The contract is defective in form if the marriage ceremony is invalid, such as the case of two Catholic persons being married outside of the Catholic Church.

- The contract is defective of contract if it was not a marriage that was contracted, such as if there was a defect of intent on either side. This can occur if either party lacked the intent to enter into a lifelong, exclusive union, open to reproduction.

- If either party was coerced, they lacked willingness, and therefore lacked intent.

• If either party was married to another, they were unable to enter into the contract. Also, certain relationships of blood render the parties unable to enter into contract. Also, parties of the same gender are unable to enter into contract.

Aside from the last reason, it seems to me if everything was cool when the marriage was good, why look backwards now when the marriage turns sour?

I don’t want to offend anyone, but if someone could provide statistics, it would be great.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Do dioceses publish this information? I didn’t know. I thought it was confidential.

 

[JRKH]

Yes - This is quite true.

In addition there would be the number of Catholics who never even ask for an annulment…So perhaps a better question would be, what percentage of divorced Catholics are granted annulments.

The very sad thing in these matters is frankly the poor formation that many people had growing up and entering pre-cana. I know that I was a poorly formed Catholic and our “pre-cana” was not at all lengthy or involved…of course we were already pregnant at the time…… We were determined to marry but in fact were too young and immature to make a true commitment…

I agree with you Truelight that the Annulment situation is terrible, but I see it as an outgrowth of a period of poor catechesis and too liberal tendencies in the American Church over the last 40 years or so.
The only real solution is to improve teaching, and recapture the deep commitment that Marriage represents. Over time, the annulment problem will simply go away. Though interesting ly enough, the percentages might not change…After all whether the number of requests is 100 or 1000 or 10000 per year a percentage is a percentage…

Peace
James

 

[Kerry77]

Would not granting the annulment really keep them married? I think they would just be more likely to get their civil divorce and move on.

 

[agapewolf]

In applying for annulment, in many places, one goes first to who might be their advocate. The advocate many times says they don’t have a case. THEN it goes to a “triage” stage before it even gets to the tribunal, to be filtered through. Determining how many marriages the tribunal deems as invalid wouldn’t make sense because only the cases with the best chances are sent in the first place.

Also, many annulments granted are for non-Catholics who are married to , or getting married to Catholics.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

It sometimes feel to me that annulments have become the Catholic divorce as some claim.

I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but I do.

It seems to me that unless both parties were devout Catholics, when married, there can always be found some sort of past impediment that make the marriage fall into one of these categories.

Aside from the last reason, it seems to me if everything was cool when the marriage was good, why look backwards now when the marriage turns sour?

I don’t want to offend anyone, but if someone could provide statistics, it would be great.

Why would you want statistics?
This is really no one’s business.
IMHO, if anyone is worried about the state of Catholic marriages, maybe they should get involved in the pre-Cana ministry at their parish.

 

[Kerry77]

Yes, your terminology is correct. My question still stands though, but I guess in more general terms…What would not granting the annulment really achieve? Especially in light of your note that in many places you need to first have received a civil divorce anyway. That would mean that they were now divorced in civil law, had gone through the agony of determining custody and financial arrangements, etc. I don’t see what denying an annulment would achieve, other than making them both ineligible to marry again in the Church.

 

[centurionguard]

It sometimes feel to me that annulments have become the Catholic divorce as some claim.

I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but I do.

It seems to me that unless both parties were devout Catholics, when married, there can always be found some sort of past impediment that make the marriage fall into one of these categories.

Aside from the last reason, it seems to me if everything was cool when the marriage was good, why look backwards now when the marriage turns sour?

I don’t want to offend anyone, but if someone could provide statistics, it would be great.

See here: kofc.org/un/en/resources/cis/cis301.pdf
According to statistics compiled by the Vatican from Catholic
dioceses around the world, diocesan tribunals completed
49,233 cases for nullity of marriage in 2006. Tribunals in
the United States were responsible for more than 27,000 of those
cases; this percentage of cases handled in the United States
(fluctuating between 55 and 70 percent) has remained about the
same over the past 30 years. This is an astronomical increase, for in
1968 only 338 annulments were granted in the United States.
This number, despite its remarkable growth over the past several
years, represents only a fraction of the estimated 10 million divorced
Catholics in the United States,this number increasing by about
200,000 each year. Is an annulment merely a “Catholic divorce”?
How can the Church give out so many annulments and still maintain
its teaching that marriage is a permanent union between a man and
a woman? How is the Church attempting to respond in compassion
and justice to the needs of the millions of Catholics around the world
who have divorced and experienced the personal tragedy of failure
within an intimate union such as marriage?

Somehow in the Church it seems clear that Sanctity of Marriage doesn’t have as much meaning and value as it did prior to the 1960’s. The plague of Modernism.

 

[JRKH]

(Snip)

Somehow in the Church it seems clear that Sanctity of Marriage doesn’t have as much meaning and value as it did prior to the 1960’s. The plague of Modernism.

When you say “in the Church” are we to assume you mean in the governance and/or teaching of the Church? Or perhaps you mean among the laity of the Church?

This is a crucial question - the answer to which can go far in understanding the “plague” - that is the various contributing factors to the increase in Divorce among Catholics and in the Annulments applied for and granted.

Simply to say the “plague of Modernism” strikes me as not a terribly useful term. It seems to convey a feeling of the “good ole days”…Maybe I’m misunderstanding though.

Prior to the 1960’s - and even into the 1960’s there was often a “positional” view among the clergy that regardless of problems the marriage should be preserved. This had the effect of, in some cases, forcing people to remain in abusive situations and even dangerous ones.
In my own experience I know that my wife, was married previously to a man who abused her, raped her, cheated on her and yet when she went to her pastor, he told her to stay in the marriage. He did not talk to the husband to tell him that his actions were totally unacceptable…He just told her to stay in the marriage…She tried and spent several more years being abused before finally breaking free and getting divorced AND being granted an annulment.
In today’s world of course the priest’s line of approach would be considered completely out of line and rightly so.
So the thing for all of us to remember is that we need to move forward and rebuild the Catholic concept of Marriage as a Sacrament, AND the proper and loving roles of each partner in marriage…Pre-Cana is crucial…

Peace
James

 

[TrueLight]

Thank you everyone who has responded thus far.

See here: kofc.org/un/en/resources/cis/cis301.pdf
According to statistics compiled by the Vatican from Catholic
dioceses around the world, diocesan tribunals completed
49,233 cases for nullity of marriage in 2006. Tribunals in
the United States were responsible for more than 27,000 of those
cases; this percentage of cases handled in the United States
(fluctuating between 55 and 70 percent) has remained about the
same over the past 30 years. This is an astronomical increase, for in
1968 only 338 annulments were granted in the United States.

Wow. These stats are crazy! And something to think about.

 

[TrueLight]

When you say “in the Church” are we to assume you mean in the governance and/or teaching of the Church? Or perhaps you mean among the laity of the Church?

This is a crucial question - the answer to which can go far in understanding the “plague” - that is the various contributing factors to the increase in Divorce among Catholics and in the Annulments applied for and granted.

Simply to say the “plague of Modernism” strikes me as not a terribly useful term. It seems to convey a feeling of the “good ole days”…Maybe I’m misunderstanding though.

Prior to the 1960’s - and even into the 1960’s there was often a “positional” view among the clergy that regardless of problems the marriage should be preserved. This had the effect of, in some cases, forcing people to remain in abusive situations and even dangerous ones.
In my own experience I know that my wife, was married previously to a man who abused her, raped her, cheated on her and yet when she went to her pastor, he told her to stay in the marriage. He did not talk to the husband to tell him that his actions were totally unacceptable…He just told her to stay in the marriage…She tried and spent several more years being abused before finally breaking free and getting divorced AND being granted an annulment.

Peace
James

These types of situations, in my opinion justify a separation or divorce.

Okay, so divorce is not allowed in the Catholic Church.

So should we then go back and try to find something that would declare this marriage as never having happened?

 

[AnneTeresa]

I read so many comments about how awful the high number of annulments granted is. I have a different viewpoint to put out there. What if we saw the large number of annulments as indicative of the fact that people really DO want to be right with God and the Church and they will go through a very painful process to make that happen?

Many people seeking annulments were likely ill prepared for taking the vows that a sacramental marriage is meant to be. This lack of preparation was a result of society and values changing in recent decades, as well as where the church was (in terms of poor catechesis and marriage prep).

Today those things are being addressed by the church with increased emphasis on marriage prep and improved catechism.
But there is still a current fallout for the many people who were ill prepared for marriage and who now want to make things right after a divorce.

I’m just saying maybe it’s not always about people trying to get away with things like a second marriage (which I hear people say here so often, though not this particular thread) but a sign that people really truly do want to follow God in His Church.

If you look at the Church’s long history, this current divorce/ annulment situation is just a blip in the timeline of the church. Every age has its own issues–both in and out of the Church. This is one of them for our time and future generations will not have this period of reparation any longer (I hope). It will take time to correct this situation and deal with today’s fallout, but it is happening with better teaching now.

 

[TrueLight]

Many people seeking annulments were likely ill prepared for taking the vows that a sacramental marriage is meant to be.

Ill prepared in what way?

Can you give some examples?

I just feel that one can always say one was ill prepared.

Maybe a man married his wife mostly because she was gorgeous. Does that mean over time he might not grow to love her, and then fall out of love?

Or maybe a couple got married because she got pregnant. In that case, one can almost say one was forced. Is that a reason for an annulment? How many people have started out that way and ended up with rock-solid marriages?

Do you see what I mean?

 

[JRKH]

I read so many comments about how awful the high number of annulments granted is. I have a different viewpoint to put out there. What if we saw the large number of annulments as indicative of the fact that people really DO want to be right with God and the Church and they will go through a very painful process to make that happen?

Many people seeking annulments were likely ill prepared for taking the vows that a sacramental marriage is meant to be. This lack of preparation was a result of society and values changing in recent decades, as well as where the church was (in terms of poor catechesis and marriage prep).

Today those things are being addressed by the church with increased emphasis on marriage prep and improved catechism.
But there is still a current fallout for the many people who were ill prepared for marriage and who now want to make things right after a divorce.

I’m just saying maybe it’s not always about people trying to get away with things like a second marriage (which I hear people say here so often, though not this particular thread) but a sign that people really truly do want to follow God in His Church.

If you look at the Church’s long history, this current divorce/ annulment situation is just a blip in the timeline of the church. Every age has its own issues–both in and out of the Church. This is one of them for our time and future generations will not have this period of reparation any longer (I hope). It will take time to correct this situation and deal with today’s fallout, but it is happening with better teaching now.

 

[centurionguard]

When you say “in the Church” are we to assume you mean in the governance and/or teaching of the Church? Or perhaps you mean among the laity of the Church?

This is a crucial question - the answer to which can go far in understanding the “plague” - that is the various contributing factors to the increase in Divorce among Catholics and in the Annulments applied for and granted.

Simply to say the “plague of Modernism” strikes me as not a terribly useful term. It seems to convey a feeling of the “good ole days”…Maybe I’m misunderstanding though.

Prior to the 1960’s - and even into the 1960’s there was often a “positional” view among the clergy that regardless of problems the marriage should be preserved. This had the effect of, in some cases, forcing people to remain in abusive situations and even dangerous ones.
In my own experience I know that my wife, was married previously to a man who abused her, raped her, cheated on her and yet when she went to her pastor, he told her to stay in the marriage. He did not talk to the husband to tell him that his actions were totally unacceptable…He just told her to stay in the marriage…She tried and spent several more years being abused before finally breaking free and getting divorced AND being granted an annulment.
In today’s world of course the priest’s line of approach would be considered completely out of line and rightly so.
So the thing for all of us to remember is that we need to move forward and rebuild the Catholic concept of Marriage as a Sacrament, AND the proper and loving roles of each partner in marriage…Pre-Cana is crucial…

Peace
James

When you say “in the Church” are we to assume you mean in the governance and/or teaching of the Church? Or perhaps you mean among the laity of the Church?

Sorry for not being more clear I meant the Laity.
The teaching on marriage in the Church is solid. Perhaps the governance or way it is taught in Marriage Prep isn’t as clear or received as well as it should.

A lot of bearing on this too has an awful lot to do with the knowledge retained by Catholics who are catechized or are not properly catechized before they enter into marriage.
JRKH;8730075:

Simply to say the “plague of Modernism” strikes me as not a terribly useful term. It seems to convey a feeling of the “good ole days”…Maybe I’m misunderstanding though.

I was implying the influences of Modernism as being a formidable contributing factor of why the Sanctity of Marriages in the Church is failing.

Given the massive amount of annulments in comparison to 1968 certainly somehow God has been taken out the picture of marriage and ignored along with the many virtues needed and put into practice which bind true love.

 

[JRKH]

These types of situations, in my opinion justify a separation or divorce.

Okay, so divorce is not allowed in the Catholic Church.

So should we then go back and try to find something that would declare this marriage as never having happened?

It is well worth looking into.

The basis for the annulment in my wife’s case is that he was not mature enough (as demonstrated by his subsequent actions) to enter into a valid marriage.

The fact that this man failed to treat his wife properly within the Sacrament of Marriage, from the beginning makes it clear that no true sacrament had ever occurred.

Peace
James

 

[TrueLight]

It is well worth looking into.

The basis for the annulment in my wife’s case is that he was not mature enough (as demonstrated by his subsequent actions) to enter into a valid marriage.

The fact that this man failed to treat his wife properly within the Sacrament of Marriage, from the beginning makes it clear that no true sacrament had ever occurred.

Peace
James

I still maintain these are reasons for divorce.

People get divorced for the same reasons.

Just because someone is a jerk or an abuser does not mean the marriage did not exist. It was a bad marriage, sure. And if a man physically abuses his wife, he should spend time in jail.

Just because someone is immature does not mean a marriage did not exist. How many people who get married in their early 20’s are really mature? That comes with time. Plus , you know men take a while to mature.

 

[TrueLight]

With all due respect, sometimes I feel annulments are just a way to give good Catholics a second chance at a good marriage.

 

[ProVobis]

This is correct. Furthermore, the annulment process doesn’t have any legal ramifications. It doesn’t affect alimony payments, children custody or visitation, property redistribution, or one’s tax liabilities.

That said, the state does have its own annulment process. And that does have legal ramifications. But that’s a separate issue.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I still maintain these are reasons for divorce.

People get divorced for the same reasons.

Just because someone is a jerk or an abuser does not mean the marriage did not exist. It was a bad marriage, sure. And if a man physically abuses his wife, he should spend time in jail.

Just because someone is immature does not mean a marriage did not exist. How many people who get married in their early 20’s are really mature? That comes with time. Plus , you know men take a while to mature.

Hence the process of the annulment. The tribunal looks at all the relevant information and makes a ruling.

Who are we do say that they got it wrong?

Statistics do not tell you anything except for the numbers involved. Without knowing any context for those numbers we can not learn anything from them.

As Mark Twain said “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.”