I know that I had to answer a fairly extensive pre-Cana battery of questions, though admittedly they were of the Likert scale, multiple choice type, rather than the reflective writing generally associated with nullity case questionnaires.
I do think that more questions could be asked in some places, as part of the pre-Cana preparation. However, having said this, I am not entirely sure that annullment-type questionnaires would seriously alter the divorce rate for a variety of reasons, to wit:
—The Church (in this country, at least) already takes some major flak over the six-month waiting period and the various pre-Cana hoops through which engaged couples must jump. This varies from diocese to diocese, with some requiring Engaged Encounters, and some even requiring NFP classes. Some really prevail upon the Catholic spouse(s) to be confirmed prior to the wedding, as well as the need to not cohabitate. Most parishes, however, require several meetings with a priest, deacon or marriage counselor of some sort, and a class at one’s parish. Then there is the paperwork to be presented (baptism, communion and confirmation certificates, as well as civil license and possibly divorce papers and decrees of nullity). We all know that there are many cases of irregular marriages that must be addressed through various means, all of which require additional time. Simply put, I think that elaborate questionnaires that required reflective, fairly lengthy written responses would only add to the perception, particularly among young people, that the Church places too many obstacles and “hoops” in the way of young people seeking to get married in the Church. Many young people are not capable of that level of sincere, mature reflection at that stage of their lives, and some would likely marry outside the Church before they would submit to what they would consider intrusive questions.
----As stated above, one’s ability to reflect in such a mature and sincere fashion increases with age and maturity. There is a big difference between the typical single 25-year old’s ability and that of a 35 year-old who has been divorced and possibly had children. The same is even more true of a 45-year old, a 55-year old, etc. In other words, one would not likely get the same level of reflection from many, if not most, young couples, even if it were required before marriage. How many of us were so capable at that age? Sure, we THOUGHT we were at the time…
—It is always easier to see things in hindsight, particularly years after the fact. Thus, the reflection process comes more naturally at the later juncture, after specific events have occurred in the interim, whereas such insight is unlikely to materialize at an earlier time, when youth and emotion are in control. Besides, how many of would have really have listened at that point, even when confronted with direct evidence of specific concerns, and red flags galore? No, we probably would have come up with a million excuses as to why XYZ was NOT going to happen to us, identifying specific strategies that we would use to make sure of that. Some would even do this quite articulately, in a way that would convince the priest that we were really mature and level-headed, after all.
No, human nature being what it is, and especially the American consumeristic culture being what it is, and with our generation being conditioned to instant gratification (so different than our parents’ and grandparents’ generations were), I doubt that more intensive questioning, however reflective, would seriously dent the divorce rate. I wish I could say otherwise.
Should have run the other way, really really fast. But didn’t - until 11 years later. 