Denied annulment - appeal?

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nnulments, in short are about the situation as it existed PRIOR to the marriage occurring.
So, consent to the sacrament is paramount, as well as both parties being elligible for marriage.
  1. Can’t already be married
  2. Must be open to life (intend to have children)
  3. Can’t be incapacitated
  4. Both people are Catholic.
So if a Catholic and a non-Catholic get married in the non-Catholic’s church, does that make the marriage invalid?

In another case, if the one spouse only became Catholic for show so to speak, would that make the marriage invalid?
 
So if a Catholic and a non-Catholic get married in the non-Catholic’s church, does that make the marriage invalid?

In another case, if the one spouse only became Catholic for show so to speak, would that make the marriage invalid?
This is my understanding (your first point). But it wouldn’t matter unless there was a subsequent divorce and a follow up petition for annulment. The marriage is considered valid unless someone challenges it. Someone else may have better read on that.

On the second point, I think it would be hard to prove that unless they were on record before the marriage occurred (like in writing or video or something). It speaks to their intentions–which can be used for nullity.
 
So if a Catholic and a non-Catholic get married in the non-Catholic’s church, does that make the marriage invalid?

In another case, if the one spouse only became Catholic for show so to speak, would that make the marriage invalid?
It depends. Baptized catholics are bound by Canon Law to either marry in the Church or receive dispensation to marry elsewhere. If the catholic fails to receive dispensation and gets married outside the Church the marriage is invalid. If the catholic receives dispensation than the marriage would be valid.

In the other case I suppose that is possible. For example, if the catholic said they could only marry a practicing catholic and their future spouse made a false conversion in order to deceive the catholic into marriage than it would be a type of fraud.
 
I just recently found out that my petition for an annulment was denied due to lack of evidence. It took over 2 years and I am devastated. I have the option to appeal but I can’t find much (or really anything) online about what this process entails, how long it takes, etc. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I don’t know what to do or if it’s even worth it. I waffle on whether or not I actually have grounds for an annulment. It’s not cut and dry, but I am led to believe that there must be *something *there since my local tribunal accepted my case into the process in the first place?
I remember the process was long,difficult and exhausting when my first marriage was annulled several years ago- it took longer than it should have because I took so long asking people to be witnesses than I should have and I was given very little support or offers of counselling to help me with the process. I was emotionally wrung out. I remarried before the final result was given as I was fearful of leaving marriage and children too late. I was granted the annulment but had made a worse choice for my second husband and the father of my children. This did not come to light until I was pregnant with our second child, but really I ignored the earlier signs. My eldest son had followed me into the house when he was about 3 and said ‘Daddy hates you’ very sadly after he had witnessed his father insulting and abusing me outside in the backyard. It was one of the saddest times of my life. I left the marriage when my third child was not quite 3yrs old. I left because I have 3 sons and their father was controlling, abusive and a very poor example of a husband or how to treat women. He told me he planned to make the rest of my life as miserable as he could. My most sad memory is he had told me he was anon practicing Catholic (he had received the sacraments and had gone to a Catholic school) and often came to Mass with me but after we were engaged, he told me he was an atheist. I was shocked and said I couldn’t marry him. He quickly reneged, said he mixed up his words and said he meant agnostic. I now know I should have stuck to my gut feeling, but then I wouldn’t have my children. I feel I have grounds for a second annulment, but I know he would deny this happened, despite his very overt anti-Catholic stance now. I don’t know if second annulments are ever given! I have remarried a lovely man who has since become Catholic through his own growth in faith, and I have reconnected with the Church as best I can by talking through things with my parish priest. We attend Mass as a family, including my sons, all teenagers.My point in telling this story is the annulment is only part of the picture. Get support, find peace with God and forgive yourself before involving yourself with anyone else, annulment or not.
 
I remarried before the final result was given as I was fearful of leaving marriage and children too late.
Did you ever marry your second husband in the Church; i.e., a convalidation? If not, the Church never considered you married to your second husband, therefore you do not need an annulment for the second marriage.

As far as the granting of multiple annulments, the Church does not limit the number of annulments you can have. The marriage either is or is not valid, and an annulment for another marriage doesn’t affect that.

However, if a spouse is continually getting married and divorced, that may be cause for concern, and may be addressed by your pastor. Many people do not learn from prior mistakes, and counseling may be in order.
 
Do yourself a favor. Do an Internet search under Sociopath, divorce, cheating and you should find a list of symptoms of a Sociopath. See if most if not all describe your husband.
Oh, trust me, I’ve been trying to psychoanalyze him for 9 years. I really don’t think he is a sociopath. He is a very hurt little boy raised by a narcissistic mother. Yes, he has narcissistic traits, and I have to be very careful in my dealings with him, but I don’t think he is a sociopath. (My mother, on the other hand, does see a bit of that in him.)
 
Isn’t that interesting- I tried to diagnose my husband for a long time too- I’m a mental health professional, so it was the natural thing to do. Too bad I didn’t analyse the early signs as well as I should have! He too had very dysfunctional, emotionally neglectful parents…but you know what? He still knew right from wrong and he still hurt me when he didn’t have too, so personal responsibility was never abrogated. I told him he needed counselling and we started together because I threatened to leave if he didn’t, but he only attended 3 sessions. He just would not accept or take responsibility for his behaviour.
 
Did you ever marry your second husband in the Church; i.e., a convalidation? If not, the Church never considered you married to your second husband, therefore you do not need an annulment for the second marriage.

As far as the granting of multiple annulments, the Church does not limit the number of annulments you can have. The marriage either is or is not valid, and an annulment for another marriage doesn’t affect that.

However, if a spouse is continually getting married and divorced, that may be cause for concern, and may be addressed by your pastor. Many people do not learn from prior mistakes, and counseling may be in order.
I did get married before a priest and with my parents as witnesses just before my first child was born, mainly because I rang to make enquiries to do it sometime after the birth and the woman who worked for the parish was very worried and said I really should do it before the baby was born, something I very much regret. I only agreed to do it because I felt guilty after I spoke to her, and assumed she understood it all better than me. If I had left it to when I wanted to, I don’t think I would have done it, and would not have the mess I was left with. As to needing counselling, I think it should be a mandatory part of the annulment process. I was shattered and very vulnerable after my first divorce. It was no wonder I became involved with someone who reinforced my guilt about my first marriage break up- I felt like I deserved to be treated bad, and that was before the real abuse started. I don’t know what it’s like now, but the annulment process should be more holistic- look at the the person’s life as well as the sacramental aspects of the marriage.
 
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