Anyone have statistics on annulments requested versus annulments granted?

[cheese_puff]

… And, yes, in today’s America (look at how sick our society has become - pornography, sex in advertising, rampant secularism in schools, poor examples of marriage in our homes, abortion, etc) one must truly go AGAINST the tide to understand the commitment involved in a sacramental marriage. It’s not about “falling” in and out of love. It’s about lifelong commitment, and our society gives almost NO examples of that these days. Even priests and religious walk away from their vows.

This is exactly what I meant. The idea of a sacrimental marriage is nothing like the secular concept of “falling in love” and marrage for companionship.
The annulment process was extremely educational, and an intense examination of your concience, a huge eye opener.

 

[jeanannemarie]

I do not have any statistics to offer, but would just like to say that it is not surprising to me that there may be many annulments granted. What other outcome could there be when so many people are ill equipped in this society after all our “revolutions” to make a valid commitment to another person? I do not think that even Catholics have been taught well and with the pressure of our society, a weekend of pre-Cana doesn’t necessarily get all the information across. Just my two cents.

 

[Sword_Brethren]

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.

 

[lovetohope]

As one who has completed the questionnaire and is seeking a declaration of nullity, I can testify to the very painful process this truly is. I think many people misunderstand the intentions of those who seek a declaration, and take for granted that these same people have already suffered the agony of divorce. The questionnaire for my particular archdiocese is very in-depth and I ended up typing over 35 pages worth of responses. It took me three months to complete and was a struggle every step of the way in recalling all that had occurred.

 

[JRKH]

As one who has completed the questionnaire and is seeking a declaration of nullity, I can testify to the very painful process this truly is. I think many people misunderstand the intentions of those who seek a declaration, and take for granted that these same people have already suffered the agony of divorce. The questionnaire for my particular archdiocese is very in-depth and I ended up typing over 35 pages worth of responses. It took me three months to complete and was a struggle every step of the way in recalling all that had occurred.

God Bless you on this journey.

I truly understand where you are coming from.

For myself I was trying to recall things that occurred 35 years earlier and trying to weed through all the “baggage” accumulated over the years so that I could try to give good and truthful answers to those questions.
I does indeed take considerable time in order to work through feel comfortable with the answers.

Peace
James

 

[keepingfaith4]

As one who has completed the questionnaire and is seeking a declaration of nullity, I can testify to the very painful process this truly is. I think many people misunderstand the intentions of those who seek a declaration, and take for granted that these same people have already suffered the agony of divorce. The questionnaire for my particular archdiocese is very in-depth and I ended up typing over 35 pages worth of responses. It took me three months to complete and was a struggle every step of the way in recalling all that had occurred.

i can relate to that—i am anxious about attempting to get one myself for i do not know if i can relive all those painful years when i do the questionnaire—took me 4 years post divorce to start fully healing from the abuse and pain(emotional)----my marriage was a sacrament and i worked hard at it til i physically could not

 

[couponfit]

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.

The stat would be misleading. Because we don’t even submit a request unless we meet the criteria for an annulment. Keep in mind many converts seek annulments because their wedding was never within the catholic church. Even if they married a catholic the wedding did not take place with dispensation. Those annulments are very different than those at a catholic church where one or both parties are catholic or one that was properly dispensed for a catholic to marry outside the church.

 

[JRKH]

The stat would be misleading. Because we don’t even submit a request unless we meet the criteria for an annulment. Keep in mind many converts seek annulments because their wedding was never within the catholic church. Even if they married a catholic the wedding did not take place with dispensation. Those annulments are very different than those at a catholic church where one or both parties are catholic or one that was properly dispensed for a catholic to marry outside the church.

In order to make any real sense out of the numbers of annulments granted, there would need to be a thorough examination and break down of the whys (grounds) for the annulments (Pareto). This would give a better understanding of the actual health of the Tribunal process.

Does anyone know if this has been done and/or published anywhere?

Even then, the numbers would only reflect those which actually got TO a tribunal. As you say above, an application isn’t even submitted unless it is believe that there are reasonable grounds for the annulment.

Peace
James

 

[TrueLight]

Keep in mind many converts seek annulments because their wedding was never within the catholic church.

Are you referring to unbaptized people?

 

[TrueLight]

As one who has completed the questionnaire and is seeking a declaration of nullity, I can testify to the very painful process this truly is. I think many people misunderstand the intentions of those who seek a declaration, and take for granted that these same people have already suffered the agony of divorce.

Since I started this thread, let me just say, if I hadn’t said it at all in this thread, the question was not about whether people apply willy-nilly for annulments. I didn’t mean to insinuate that anyone did not go through a painful process.

The question is about availability of annulments.

I was trying to understand why the church allows so many annulments. That was the point of the thread, but I’ am no longer seeking answers at this time.

 

[Leegal]

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.

The reasons for annulments are quite more specific and complex that Wikipedia explains. It’s too general. As one who has not sought an annulment, but may very well be married, I would not be included in any stats.

Diocese of Metuchen, NJ. In 1987 there were 241 cases. In 2010, there were 47.

With 88 % of dioceses responding, 21,850 annulments were granted in 2006, while 19,039 were granted in 2009. This does not take into account those who were denied, those who never proceeded after discussion with a priest.

Canon Law is much more specific on a decree of nullity. The condition had to exist prior to or on the wedding day. A spouse who commits adultery, does not give a decree of nullity to the other spouse. For that to happen, it would be proven the the adulterous spouse was already promiscuous before the marriage, hid the fact, and hid the fact that he or she had a lovers or lovers presently and did not intend to be faithful. Canon Law speaks about the presence of mind prior to or at the time the marriage took place.

Contract marriages can be granted a decree of nullity because one spouse did not have a say in choice of a mariage partner and could not consent. Marriage to keep a person from being deported can be annulled.

A person who marries to leave a horrible home situation cannot enter into a valid marriage if the marriage was USED and spouse was used to escape the home life – thereby deceiving the spouse as to the reasons for entering into a marriage.

Canon Law

 

[TrueLight]

The reasons for annulments are quite more specific and complex that Wikipedia explains. It’s too general. As one who has not sought an annulment, but may very well be married, I would not be included in any stats.

Diocese of Metuchen, NJ. In 1987 there were 241 cases. In 2010, there were 47.

With 88 % of dioceses responding, 21,850 annulments were granted in 2006, while 19,039 were granted in 2009. This does not take into account those who were denied, those who never proceeded after discussion with a priest.

Canon Law is much more specific on a decree of nullity. The condition had to exist prior to or on the wedding day. A spouse who commits adultery, does not give a decree of nullity to the other spouse. For that to happen, it would be proven the the adulterous spouse was already promiscuous before the marriage, hid the fact, and hid the fact that he or she had a lovers or lovers presently and did not intend to be faithful. Canon Law speaks about the presence of mind prior to or at the time the marriage took place.

Contract marriages can be granted a decree of nullity because one spouse did not have a say in choice of a mariage partner and could not consent. Marriage to keep a person from being deported can be annulled.

A person who marries to leave a horrible home situation cannot enter into a valid marriage if the marriage was USED and spouse was used to escape the home life – thereby deceiving the spouse as to the reasons for entering into a marriage.

Canon Law

Well thank you for responding, Leegal. I appreciate the response.

But I really have abandoned this thread because it is a sensitive topic and it is not my intention to cause anyone pain.

 

[JRKH]

Hey Leegal,
Thanks for posting those numbers which indicate a decreasing number of annulments.

Peace
James

 

[lovetohope]

God Bless you on this journey.

I truly understand where you are coming from.

For myself I was trying to recall things that occurred 35 years earlier and trying to weed through all the “baggage” accumulated over the years so that I could try to give good and truthful answers to those questions.
I does indeed take considerable time in order to work through feel comfortable with the answers.

Peace
James

Thank you, James. There is indeed a lot that accumulates in one’s heart and mind. I appreciate your response.

 

[YADA]

Statistics don’t show a full picture. These statistics do not reflect how many of these cases were sought by non-Catholics (who wanted to join the Church, or to marry a Catholic).

In the past several years, a significant majority of the petitions for nullity (re: defect of consent) in my parish are submitted by non-Catholics. I do not know how universal this is.

The issue isn’t just about Catholics not being adequately prepared for marriage - it is a problem across the board.

Originally Posted by centurionguard forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif
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

Okay … there is an old adage "Statistics don’t lie but liars use statistics"

**My understanding is that prior to 1968 fewer Catholics married outside the faith … and civil divorce carried a stigma … few people sought divorce … there was no idea of a “no fault” divorce … there was always a need for serious ‘grounds’ to justify a civil divorce … and Desertion was referred to a the poor man’s divorce … context …

So forge ahead … to today …

Many of those 27,000 annulments were decided on marriages that were contracted between two non catholics … many performed before a Justice of the peace … For example my first marriage is one that received a decree of nullity in 1996/97 [my first marriage - contracted between myself - a protestant and my former spouse a non baptized person - the wedding performed by a South Carolina Justice of the Peace]

For context - if one or two catholic persons contracted a marriage before a justice of the peace - later divorced and who then sought to get married in a Catholic ceremony would not need to obtain the annulment … yet I did … thus those divorced and remarrying catholic or catholics are not included in that 27,000 but the former marriage of two non catholics is …

So the 27,000 includes marriages which ended in divorce that were originally contracted between:

1. • Two non Christian - Non-Catholics married civilly
   • One non Christian - One Non-Catholic Christian married civilly
   • Two non Christian - Non-Catholics married in a religious ceremony
   • One non Christian - One Non-Catholic Christian married in a religious ceremony
   • One non Christian - One Catholic Christian married in a religious ceremony with proper dispensation [could have been in a CC or some Denom]
   • One Christian - One Catholic Christian married in a religious ceremony with proper dispensation
   • Two Catholics married in a catholic ceremony
   And you think that a simple comparison between the number of annulments granted in 1968 to the number of annulments granted in 2006 is meaningful?
   
   Off the top of my head - the following basic information is needed for analysis [and probably much more]
   • What was the total number of marriages in the United States - by category- identified in 1-7 above in 2006?
   • In 2006, what was the number of civil divorces granted for each of those 7 categories?
   • By category - in 2006, how many of those individual categories were submitted to a Tribunal?
   • Of those sub categories submitted - what was the breakdown of those 27,000 annulments granted by category?
   This might tell you that the greatest number of annulments sought came for Category 1 - Two non Christian - Non-Catholics married civilly as opposed to Category 7 - Two Catholics married in a catholic ceremony …one should see a huge difference in the Sacramentality or potential of same between the two … or not
   
   Oh and I do not believe that prior to 1968 - the Church was deciding annulment cases between two non catholics as often as they are today**

 

[JRKH]

YADA - Great Post.

Peace
James

 

[lovetohope]

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.

What a truly thoughtful response! It is truly difficult to be prepared appropriately for marriage in a culture that is pervasively anti-family. As long as family life is broken, so many other elements of society will be broken as well.

 

[YADA]

YADA - Great Post.

Peace
James

Thanks … It just always seems itonic that people try to use some bare statistic to prove some point when the statistic is barely related to the point they want to prove …

I studied engineering - statistics was never my strongest interest:blush: … but I think I must have absorbed far more then I thought at the time

 

[hudson]

So after all of these annulments stating there never was a marriage in the first place, does that make any children in these non existing marriages illegitimate? Truelight you have to realise you are probably getting alot of answers from people that have received annulments. There is an obvious bias when speaking on this subject with people who have received them.

 

[figs]

So after all of these annulments stating there never was a marriage in the first place, does that make any children in these non existing marriages illegitimate? Truelight you have to realise you are probably getting alot of answers from people that have received annulments. There is an obvious bias when speaking on this subject with people who have received them.

…as well as there is serious lack of understanding in those who have never been educated about the process, sadly leading to an extremely narrow and judgemental view.
No, the children are not illegitimate.