Statement of Nullity

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SpaceMonkey

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Hello all-

Looking for advise on how to answer my Statement of Nullity on the Annulment Form. It says I should discuss with my priest, deacon, or some other competent minister but I’ve left a message at the parish a few weeks ago and I know it’s a busy time of the year so I wanted to check in to see if anyone could help.

My reasons I believe my previous marriage is invalid in the eyes of God and the Church is that when I married, neither of us were practicing any religion, had any guidance, and I decided we should marry due to pregnancy. If I clean up the wording on this, would that suffice for the tribunal?

Thank you in advance
 
No one here can answer that for you with any certainty.

You really should do as instructed and not ask random strangers on the Internet. If they give you incorrect information, where will that leave you?

I know it is hard to wait, but that seems to be how it goes. Pray for patience. And maybe give a call to your parish priest after Easter. Make an appointment to see him, and just say it is a personal issue when they ask what it is about so they don’t try and put you off or send you elsewhere.

Are you and your ex Catholic? I see your profile lists your religion as unsure.
 
I will check out the link. Thank you

Just figured since it states that I should talk to my priest but not that have to I would see if anyone here had insight or experience with the form. That question is all I’m lacking from turning it in. If I don’t get some good advice I will of course wait to talk to the priest.

I’m not sure that my ex has any affiliation with religion and I now consider myself non-denominational. I go to Catholic Mass with my current wife but mostly try to life under the teachings in the Gospel of Matthew. I married my current wife, who is Catholic, at the court house on advice from her old parish to allow her to move long distance and move in with me until the annulment process hopefully gets approved.
 
Lent and Easter are very busy times for priests and the Church. When you start the process, your priest may assign an advocate to help you through the petition. Some parishes don’t use advocates, only the deacons and/or the priest. The point being you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. Wait a week or so after Easter Sunday then call the parish office and make an appointment to speak with the priest or a deacon regarding a petition for a marriage case.
 
Are you supposed to be living with your wife until the annulment goes through?
 
If there is sufficient reason, they can live ‘as brother and sister’ and still be within the bounds of licit behavior.
 
SpaceMonkey said:
I married my current wife, who is Catholic, at the court house on advice from her old parish to allow her to move long distance and move in with me until the annulment process hopefully gets approved.
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This may create its own problem.
 
steve93 said:
Are you supposed to be living with your wife until the annulment goes through?
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That isn’t our business or what the OP asked. The Church does not require couples to physically separate in these situations. That could create a real burden on the family and children.

Please, let’s leave pastoral care of complicated situations to the pastor.
 
SpaceMonkey said:
My reasons I believe my previous marriage is invalid in the eyes of God and the Church is that when I married, neither of us were practicing any religion, had any guidance, and I decided we should marry due to pregnancy. If I clean up the wording on this, would that suffice for the tribunal?
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You should definitely talk to your priest after Easter and your advocate or someone at the tribunal as you complete your paperwork.

It seems that you are presenting grounds under canon 1103:
Can. 1103 A marriage is invalid if entered into because of force or grave fear from without, even if unintentionally inflicted, so that a person is compelled to choose marriage in order to be free from it.

This is typical for cases involving a pregnant bride. The “force or fear” can also be the pressure, internal or external, to “do the right thing” or “give the baby a name” when you were not intending to marry before the pregnancy became known-- it doesn’t have to be a real “shot gun” situation. It might be a different case if you were already planning to marry when the pregnancy occurred. That mitigates the “force or fear” argument.

I think you would have to explain more about the pregnancy and how it impacted your decision making. I don’t think one sentence really explains it well. I don’t know, maybe you’ve covered that in other areas such as how long you knew the bride, what your relationship was like, etc.

I really think you should get advice from your advocate or pastor, because the whole thing hinges on the grounds you are claiming.
 
Thanks 1ke for staying on topic. I have explained in detail the situation that lead up to the marriage several times throughout the question and answer part of the process and I do believe you’re correct with Can. 1103 be the grounds. I think I will just wait another week or so and try to speak to the priest again. I hope it’s the priest, the deacon is rather intimidating. I wasn’t sure if it would need to be worded in a specific way or in cannon law or if it is supposed to be in my own words with the guidance of whoever my advocate will be but it sounds like they will either ask me some questions or read my answers and advise accordingly.

Thanks again.
 
TechieGuy said:
Here’s a link that might help:

stmarys-waco.org/documents/Grounds%20for%20Marriage%20Annulment%20in%20the%20Catholic%20Church.pdf

I suggest going down the list, note which ones apply and then make bullet points for those that do apply and describe the circumstances around those points.
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This needs to be in the hands of every person considering a vocation to marriage.
“Willful exclusion of marital fidelity (Canon 1101, 12)
You or your spouse married intending, either explicitly or implicitly, not to remain
faithful.”

Wow! Hard to believe, but a famous political family had a member use this as a reason to get an annulment. And there it is in black and white.

I was wondering:
Has the marriage preparation courses and wait time actually helped lower the divorce rate of Catholic Marriages?
 
1ke said:
That isn’t our business or what the OP asked. The Church does not require couples to physically separate in these situations. That could create a real burden on the family and children.

Please, let’s leave pastoral care of complicated situations to the pastor.
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I just mean since, presumably, the OP’s now-wife wasn’t homeless in “her old Parish” they could have waited until the annulment went through. Or is “shacking up” ok now?
 
steve93 said:
I just mean since, presumably, the OP’s now-wife wasn’t homeless in “her old Parish” they could have waited until the annulment went through. Or is “shacking up” ok now?
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One of those things that falls under the heading of “none of my business”, I’d say.
 
steve93 said:
I just mean since, presumably, the OP’s now-wife wasn’t homeless in “her old Parish” they could have waited until the annulment went through. Or is “shacking up” ok now?
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I have respect for the Priest at the parish I attend and enjoy his patient, merciful, humble approach but I have a hard time not laughing when people who represent themselves as Catholics make comments like this. You do realize how hypocritical it is to the outside world to hear the a follower of the Church taking a moral stand after the laundry list of scandals and cover ups. I can’t imagine that each of those instances that got over looked or brushed off we’re considered “ok now”. As often as it seems the Church modifies it’s stance on certain topics, just give it some time and I’m sure shacking up will be perfectly fine.

Not bashing the Church because my relationship with the Church has been my wife and then the parish and the priest which I have unbelievable respect and admiration for. My beef is with people who wish to judge me and my situation or anyone and then stand silent when the organization they associate with has done far worse.
 
SpaceMonkey said:
Hello all-

Looking for advise on how to answer my Statement of Nullity on the Annulment Form. It says I should discuss with my priest, deacon, or some other competent minister but I’ve left a message at the parish a few weeks ago and I know it’s a busy time of the year so I wanted to check in to see if anyone could help.

My reasons I believe my previous marriage is invalid in the eyes of God and the Church is that when I married, neither of us were practicing any religion, had any guidance, and I decided we should marry due to pregnancy. If I clean up the wording on this, would that suffice for the tribunal?

Thank you in advance
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The fact you say you had no guidance ( or counseling) on marriage…that it was mainly because of a pregnancy…both of those were major factors in my wife getting her first marriage annulled…you are supposed to have 3 witnesses to corroborate the events of the marriage…my wife could only find one as her first marriage was so long ago…she did have to see a psychologist who interviewed her and gave a statement to the tribunal…it was accepted and she was granted an annulment…make sure you give as much detail as you can…even if it may be painful or even embarrassing for you…do you have a personal advocate from your church who is advising you…definitely do as others have suggested and talk to your priest…some aspects of the annulment process have changed recently I believe so he would be the one to ask…don’t be put off in your endeavor…it took my wifes annulment 16 months…just be honest and pray for a positive outcome…
 
I just finished filling out the papers for my sister. I am one of her witnesses and praying her marriage from the late 60’s can be annulled. She would love to receive Communion again in the Catholic Church.
 
SpaceMonkey said:
My beef is with people who wish to judge me and my situation or anyone and then stand silent when the organization they associate with has done far worse.
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I get that.

Imho if a person really thinks that they have a reason for an annulment, they probably do. That seems to be the case in almost ever single one of the annulments I’ve known among my extended family and friend and acquaintances.

Prayers for you to have a thorough and helpful process and peace of mind.
 
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