Divorce and Communion

[jmcrae]

We are starting the RCIA class tonight.

Julie

Great!!

And seeing the priest … this afternoon?

Get the appointment with the priest quickly, before you get too far into RCIA.

 

[aithorette]

I called the office, and they said that the priest is there on Tuesdays and Fridays. No appointments for today. So I will make one for Friday.

What is the urgency in seeing the priest right away? Is there a chance that they wion’t accept us?

J.

 

[cecilia97]

I called the office, and they said that the priest is there on Tuesdays and Fridays. No appointments for today. So I will make one for Friday.

What is the urgency in seeing the priest right away? Is there a chance that they wion’t accept us?

J.

No no no…the Church accepts everyone! I think jmcrae (smartly) wants you to talk to the priest ASAP because he will be the only one who can give you annulment advice specific to your situation. We can only confuse you more online!

At some point during RCIA, you would want to start the process of investigating the validity of your former marriage. And the more scuttlebutt you’ve heard between now and then, the more likely you might be to get some wrong ideas. So talking with the priest before you get too far into the process will help you not be surprised later on. That’s all.

 

[aithorette]

Are most people converting to the Catholic faith (who are married NOW and have marriages in the past that they need to annul) - granted their annulments? My husband and I are in our 50’s and have several marriages in the past.

 

[jmcrae]

Are most people converting to the Catholic faith (who are married NOW and have marriages in the past that they need to annul) - granted their annulments? My husband and I are in our 50’s and have several marriages in the past.

Only 5% of applications are refused, but it is important for the Tribumal (and for you) not to make any assumptions about the outcome. Keep in mind, in order to build a case in your favour, they have to contact as many witnesses as possible - this is a courtroom trial; they can’t just take your word for things.

 

[aithorette]

Do we have to be there?

 

[jmcrae]

No no no…the Church accepts everyone! I think jmcrae (smartly) wants you to talk to the priest ASAP because he will be the only one who can give you annulment advice specific to your situation. We can only confuse you more online!

At some point during RCIA, you would want to start the process of investigating the validity of your former marriage. And the more scuttlebutt you’ve heard between now and then, the more likely you might be to get some wrong ideas. So talking with the priest before you get too far into the process will help you not be surprised later on. That’s all.

Exactly. Also, it gives you more time to put your case together and gather your witnesses.

 

[jmcrae]

Do we have to be there?

Not that I’m aware of. I’m under the impression that they take written testimony and recorded oral testimony (either by means of an interview or else by telephone) from as many witnesses as you and they can find, and then the recorded and written testimony is presented to three Tribunal judges, who then evaluate it and vote on the decision.

The whole thing is then sent to a second Tribunal, with three different judges, who also evaluate the whole thing and vote on it. If they vote the same as the first Tribunal, then that result is considered final, but if there is a disagreement, then the whole thing goes to a third Tribunal at the Vatican, which usually rules in favour of the original marriage, meaning that the application for Declaration of Nullity is denied. But the majority of cases never go that far.

 

[cecilia97]

Do we have to be there?

There is not always a hearing. There was none in my case. It’s up to the Tribunal members and their assessment of the written statements they’ve reviewed in each case.

A friend of mine did go to a “hearing”, but they called people in of different days and she never even saw the other people associated with her case. So it’s not like what we associate with a divorce courtroom situation.

 

[Drlit]

Do we have to be there?

Usually not.

In my case, I filled out the Intial Petition form (15 pages) which was given to me by my parish priest. We met and discussed the responses then submitted it to the diocese. At some point in the procedings, the “advocate of the petition” (the one representing me) met with me to ask some more details about my responses.

They met, I know not when and I was sent a letter which was CC’d to my parish that my first marriage had been found to be invalid.

By the way the other members of the tribunal were referred to as, “defender of the Bond” and “judge” the representative of the Bishop. Of course diocese differ in how they label things and what process they use.

Incidentally this was in 1979. From what I gather from others, the process hasn’t changed much, since it is described in Canon Law.

Mine took just over a year.

I’m interested – any of you who petitioned for an annulment – How long did yours take?

 

[aithorette]

We went to our first RCIA class last night. Loved it!

They are putting us in touch with the person at our parish who will advise and help us through the annulment process of previous marriages.

One man who led the meeting said that maybe because we were previously married more than once (My husband has 3 prior marriages and I have 2), that maybe they would only have to annul the first for each of us – as all marriages after the first were invalid. Something like that.

Does that sound correct?

Insight appreciated.

We are praying because we vey much want to join the Catholic Church. We will be attending our first Catholic Mass on Sunday.

Thank you.

Julie

 

[cecilia97]

Mine took just over a year.

I’m interested – any of you who petitioned for an annulment – How long did yours take?

15 months for me. A year for the first instance decision and 3 months for the review.