God and annulments

[I_am_learning]

So I had a question about annulments.
If a divorced Catholic, who is doubting the need for annulments, says “my marriage was unjustifiable, the vows were violated, etc.” (Lets say they were)
“God knows that it was, and so God has forgiven me, so I’m not sure I need an annulment.”

Now, I know this teaching is from the Church, so obviously its important, but how do you answer that? Just get through the process because thats what the Church teaches?
But if God does know that it was an invalid marriage, then the annulment process seems like its less meaningful, and just to prove it to the Church.
Is a good answer, that God would want us to go through the process regardless of it being invalid and Him knowing, because the Church which Jesus established teaches it?

This person read something about divorces on the “Got Questions?” Christian page, and it talks about an abusive situation, where they could remarry because of Gods mercy, and that the unguilty person could possibly remarry, and the guilty one would not, etc. I tried to explain that they of course have different views and so don’t believe in the Church teachings, however, i’m still having an issue explaining the process in correlation with God and His mercy.

Thank you!

 

[MiserableSinner]

Gotquestions teaches OSAS heresy. Not a good website. They believe they could commit fornication, murder, and sacrilege right before they die without repentance and as long as they believe in Jesus - they say they are saved. So they are not exactly worried about someone desecrating the Eucharist by receiving unworthily, or dying in a state of mortal sin. PRAY FOR THEM THEIR SOULS ARE IN DANGER

Anyways,

Yes the Church that God gave the Keys to the Kingdom says you have to get an annulment. Until then, it is not annulled. Even if it is invalid and God knows it, it is not annulled by the Church HE PERSONALLY GAVE AUTHORITY TO. It’s like this:
God gives authority to someone and says you must obey them. You say “God knows the truth, so I don’t have to obey them because He is a higher authority.” That is not the case. God, the higher authority, is the one who said you must obey them! In Scripture, we are CONSTANTLY reminded to obey those He places above us (unless, of course, they themselves are disobeying Him and trying to teach us to).

This is God’s mercy:
No matter how many times you disobeyed Him, He will forgive you and wash you clean in Absolution, as long as it is given by a validly ordained priest via apostolic succession.

No matter how many times you doubt His Church’s teachings, which are the teachings He personally by the Holy Spirit taught His Church, and therefore commit grave sins against Him - HE WILL STILL FORGIVE YOU. Even if you did it for 80 years and then confessed on your deathbed. That is mercy!

The problem is - the more we commit grave sins, the more our heart hardens. The more our heart hardens, the more likely we are to rebel against His Church and not receive absolution.

Please pray for your friend. Eternal salvation is of the greatest importance.

I am prone to error and took nyquil because I am sick. Forgive me if I made mistakes.

What’s the big deal? Do what God’s Church - Emphasis on GOD’S - says. Get it annulled.

 

[otjm]

It is helpful to remember that we are not the judges of another’s soul.

Having said that, altogether too many people are poorly or barely catechized, and it is between them and God, ultimately, as to the status of their soul.

On the other hand, we do not live in isolation; we are members of a community (actually, often members of many communities); and the community of a parish, which is part of the community of the Church, is impacted by one another’s choices. And the choice to not go through the process of seeking a decree of nullity has an impact on some, if not many, members of that local community of the faithful.

It would appear that the individual espousing the lack of need for a declaration of nullity is either ignorant of the what and why of the Church’s requirements, or seriously under catechized. Neither objectively releases them from the duty to seek a decree of nullity; subjectively that is not ours to determine.

There is another matter which could be at play, and that is that the vast majority of individuals do not have sufficient information with which to judge the matter; and coupled with that is our seemingly intractable ability to be somewhere between a little and a whole lot dishonest with ourselves. That, too, could be at play with the scenario, and could be the root cause of the reluctance to approach a tribunal. Following the required Church procedure keeps us self-honest.

 

[Gorgias]

So I had a question about annulments.
If a divorced Catholic, who is doubting the need for annulments, says “my marriage was unjustifiable, the vows were violated, etc.” (Lets say they were)
“God knows that it was, and so God has forgiven me, so I’m not sure I need an annulment.”

Now, I know this teaching is from the Church, so obviously its important, but how do you answer that? Just get through the process because thats what the Church teaches?
But if God does know that it was an invalid marriage, then the annulment process seems like its less meaningful, and just to prove it to the Church.

Let’s suppose that you’re accused of a horrible crime; they arrest you and put you in jail. Your friend, who was with you, is the one making the accusation. However, it comes to happen that your friend – thinking back on the incident – realizes that you didn’t do it; you’re innocent! He – who is the one who accused you in the first place! – already forgives you! But, that doesn’t mean that you’re gonna be let out of jail, just because he’s had a change of heart. No, you have to go through the process that the government uses for jurisprudence. In court, you say “I didn’t do it”, your friend has to say “I was wrong, he didn’t do it”, and the legal process has to be satisfied. At the end, you’re exonerated; but, not just by your friend knowing it – you go through the process that’s been set up to reach these sorts of decisions.