Is the Marriage Tribunal considered infallible?

[ssbristow199]

Is the Marriage Tribunal considered infallible? Can their ruling ever be a mistake? Say they grant an annulment, then different or additional information surfaces years later showing that the annulment was obtained fraudulently. If one of the parties got married ‘again’ because they thought they were free to, but their annulment was actually invalid, does that mean their ‘second’ marriage is invalid?

 

[gcshapero]

I don’t think it would be considered infallible since their decisions can be appealed and even brought to the Vatican. Though this doesn’t mean once they give a decree that we should shrug and say “I’ll do what I want anyway.” Appeal if there is reason, but don’t assume.

 

[joeybaggz]

Again. There is a difference between Infallible Teaching, and Teaching Infallibly. An IT is proclaimed as true and doctrine that all the faithful must believe when issued either by the Pope from “The Chair of Peter” in his position as supreme Teacher of the Church, or all the bishops of the church when they speak in one voice on a matter of faith or morals.
As to the Tribunal, as SS said, because their ruling can be reviewed and even revised or overturned by higher authority, it is not an Infallible Teaching (or pronouncement). It is infallibly issued and it is not “wrong”, but it may not be totally right.
My $.02

 

[ssbristow199]

Thanks! I know what you mean about IT. I guess I was using ‘infallible’ in the wrong sense. I was wondering if one could be 100% sure that the Tribunal didn’t make a mistake (or that one is ‘protected’ from culpability if they did).

 

[joeybaggz]

Thanks! I know what you mean about IT. I guess I was using ‘infallible’ in the wrong sense. I was wondering if one could be 100% sure that the Tribunal didn’t make a mistake (or that one is ‘protected’ from culpability if they did).

Appreciate your post. Error, no. Mistake, maybe. If the tribunal is something that is a possibility in your life or the life of a friend, I invite you to study the concept of authority and infallibility more. So many people really don’t understand it.