Marriage by Catholics; avoid Tribunal Annullment process?

[kage_ar]

In book reccomends - CA right here has Jimmy Akin’s book on the subject, go to the top of the page and hit “shop”

 

[IrishAm]

Re the viewing of the files by others . . .

It is my understanding (having gone through the process, but please correct me if anyone has had a different experience) that WITNESSES can stipulate no one but the Tribunal can view their responses.

The spouses (or ex-spouses) involved CAN view one another’s responses but not just by making a telephone call and having the paperwork mailed to them. One must contact the Tribunal, an appointment is made, and the responses of the former spouse, the Tribunal itself, and any witnesses who did not opt out can be viewed in the presence of a Tribunal representative. I believe this is only at the conclusion of the process. Very few people are that interested in seeing what a former spouse wrote. I do not believe any copies can be made or notes taken during the viewing.

At the conclusion of my annullment process (it took three years), I asked my advocate if he felt there was anything for me to learn from reading the file, and he thought not. His judgment was good enough for me.

 

[lizaanne]

I believe this is only at the conclusion of the process. Very few people are that interested in seeing what a former spouse wrote. I do not believe any copies can be made or notes taken during the viewing.

Yes it is - I received a letter with my declaration stating that I had only a certain number of days to view the file, after that it was sealed forever. I never took the opportunity. Only my own witnesses responded, my ex and his side never responded, so I didn’t really care to read what my own family and friends had to say about us. Not that it would have been bad, but I just was not in a place emotionally to read it, so I let it go.

~Liza

 

[cecilia97]

Yes it is - I received a letter with my declaration stating that I had only a certain number of days to view the file, after that it was sealed forever. I never took the opportunity. Only my own witnesses responded, my ex and his side never responded, so I didn’t really care to read what my own family and friends had to say about us. Not that it would have been bad, but I just was not in a place emotionally to read it, so I let it go.

~Liza

This is an example of how the process varies between locations. I just went down to read the file in my case last week. I’m about 1/2 or 2/3 of the way through the process. There hasn’t been a judgement yet. In fact, both my ex and I have the opportunity to make responses to what we read and submit them to the Tribunal for consideration.

As far as I know, witnesses are NEVER invited to read anything. Only the two former spouses.

 

[IrishAm]

As far as I know, witnesses are NEVER invited to read anything. Only the two former spouses.

Witnesses cannot read anything. They can, however,stipulate that what they write cannot be read by anyone except the Tribunal.

 

[mgrfin]

Re the viewing of the files by others . . .

It is my understanding (having gone through the process, but please correct me if anyone has had a different experience) that WITNESSES can stipulate no one but the Tribunal can view their responses.

The spouses (or ex-spouses) involved CAN view one another’s responses but not just by making a telephone call and having the paperwork mailed to them. One must contact the Tribunal, an appointment is made, and the responses of the former spouse, the Tribunal itself, and any witnesses who did not opt out can be viewed in the presence of a Tribunal representative. I believe this is only at the conclusion of the process. Very few people are that interested in seeing what a former spouse wrote. I do not believe any copies can be made or notes taken during the viewing.

At the conclusion of my annullment process (it took three years), I asked my advocate if he felt there was anything for me to learn from reading the file, and he thought not. His judgment was good enough for me.

Everything you have to say is abosolutely true. In the Los Angeles Archdiocese the process takes less than a year, including the review for ‘second opinion’ . This all included marriages that exceed 25 years in length…

It is based mostly on ‘psycohological (name removed by moderator)ut’ that one of the parties was not completely capable of making an informed decision. The contrary testimony of the other party has almost no bearing on the case.

I would recommend if you are involved, and you are not interested in marrying again, to ask to file a request for review by the Roman Rota.

If you are looking for statistics, about 90 percent of applications for ‘decree of nullity’ are granted, and about 90 percent of those reviewed (of the local dioceses) by the Holy See are reversed. About 60,000 cases are granted a decree of nullity per year. It is absolutely shocking to me. I don’t know a number for reversals by the Rota. Rome does not buy into the psychological testimony by ‘experts’.

peace

 

[jmcrae]

I called monsignor before speaking with the tribunal. He acted as though we never had the conversation, or promise made to me, that the paperwork would not be processed. He suggested I contact the tribunal and request a cease and desist on their actions thus far. Then, he told me we would keep the date at the church and he would marry us - but get this - don’t share this info with the tribunal when you speak with them.

The only way you can be validly married in the Catholic Church is to have a Decree of Nullity for the previous marriages, and the only way to get a Decree of Nullity for the previous marriages is to gather all of the available information about the previous marriages. The only way they can do that is by contacting everyone involved. Obviously, they want to hear both sides of the story, so that they can make a ruling as to whether that man is your husband, or not.

Until they have said that he is not your husband, we have to assume that he is.

I have no idea why the Monsignior would be willing to give you a pretend wedding in the Catholic Church, while you are still considered to be married to a different man.

 

[1ke]

If you are looking for statistics, about 90 percent of applications for ‘decree of nullity’ are granted, and about 90 percent of those reviewed (of the local dioceses) by the Holy See are reversed. About 60,000 cases are granted a decree of nullity per year. It is absolutely shocking to me. I don’t know a number for reversals by the Rota. Rome does not buy into the psychological testimony by ‘experts’.

Please provide a verifiable (Catholic) source for your “statistics”.

 

[mgrfin]

The only way you can be validly married in the Catholic Church is to have a Decree of Nullity for the previous marriages, and the only way to get a Decree of Nullity for the previous marriages is to gather all of the available information about the previous marriages. The only way they can do that is by contacting everyone involved. Obviously, they want to hear both sides of the story, so that they can make a ruling as to whether that man is your husband, or not.

Until they have said that he is not your husband, we have to assume that he is.

I have no idea why the Monsignior would be willing to give you a pretend wedding in the Catholic Church, while you are still considered to be married to a different man.

Because he is a “monsignor” is no guarantee he knows anything about canon law. He ought to be penalized by the bishop, maybe taking his purple away.

peace

 

[jmcrae]

Because he is a “monsignor” is no guarantee he knows anything about canon law. He ought to be penalized by the bishop, maybe taking his purple away.

peace

At the very least, the OP should mention to the Tribunal that he has made this suggestion, perhaps on the pretext of clearing up her confusion about what authority he has in the matter.