Why do I keep reading posts about married catholics getting formally annulled?

[couponfit]

The rules are so strict regarding annulment! So how is it so common that married catholics get annulments?

What am I missing from this picture? It just seems like we have so many faithful catholics working so hard to legitimize divorce, and it’s really making me wonder how it’s even occurring through the church.

 

[1ke]

The rules are so strict regarding annulment! So how is it so common that married catholics get annulments?

I suggest you read the book Annulment: The Wedding That Was by Michael Smith Foster.

There are many reasons that a decree of nullity might be granted. We cannot speak to specific situations.

What am I missing from this picture?

A lot it seems. I really suggest the book. I noticed in your other post you talked about children. Children are not relevant to a nullity case.

It just seems like we have so many faithful catholics working so hard to legitimize divorce, and it’s really making me wonder how it’s even occurring through the church.

No that is not true. Nullity and divorce are NOT the same thing.

Also, canon law has provisions allowing legal separation and divorce when necessary for protection of spouse, children, and property. Divorce is not an absolute prohibition.

Nullity is something entirely different.

 

[joanofarc2008]

The rules are so strict regarding annulment! So how is it so common that married catholics get annulments?

What am I missing from this picture? It just seems like we have so many faithful catholics working so hard to legitimize divorce, and it’s really making me wonder how it’s even occurring through the church.

Much of it has to do with the fact that in today’s society people are poorly formed for marriage. Also you have many people that are now filing for decrees of nullity that did not have the process accessible in days of old. I think you should definetly do some studying up on the subject rather than attacking those that are doing the right thing and either trying to be returned to the Sacraments or find out whether their marriage was valid which all a decree of nullity process is. Although in some cases it is so obvious that it is almost clear. No one can say for sure but lets just say some cases are clearer than others.

 

[TimothyH]

Porn addiction, contraception, and pre-marital sex.

I think the large number of annullments is just a reflection of the large number of people who have no business getting married but attempt to do so anyway.

Study after study shows that 25% of men and 9% of women in the west are addicted to porn. These people are either incapable of correctly understanding what marriage is supposed to be or incapable of actually living that understanding out in day to day life. These have no business getting married.

The same goes for contraception. If the studies are right and 90% of all Catholics use artificial contraception, then these couples are not open to life. Openness to life is a prerequisite for a valid marriage.

A man whose girlfriend has sex with him before the bond of matrimony should have no expectation that she remain chaste within the bond of matrimony. Likewise, a woman whose boyfriend insists on sex before marriage really shouldn’t have the expection that he will suddenly be able to control himself within marraige.

One has to question the validity of the matrimonian bond where contraception use is assumed prior to marriage and/or where one or both of the spouses is incapable of chastity within the boundaries of the marriage because of addiction to sexual sin or a past history of promiscuity prior to marriage. If there seems to be a large number of annullments, it is probably because a large number of marriages were never really marriages in the first place for exactly these reason.

-Tim-

 

[bmullins]

I think one of the things that one has to realize is that annulments are extremely private matters. The details in there are usually very disturbing to say the least, and there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that you won’t see unless you are involved. It’s not an easy process at all. It’s a hard one. But it’s also a healing one. Those people who go through an annulment on average are not going to say “Oh I enjoyed it immensely, we had a great time.” They have to confront the things of their past, and expound on them in a very difficult way. They have to face their fears, and they have to truly examine what their life was like when they got married.

Are they common? Maybe. But they aren’t easy, nor are they anything I wish any person should have to go through. I do thank God that he has given a way for those who did not have a valid marriage to be examined and approved, so they can move on with their life and experience the true sacrament.

 

[TheDoctor]

The rules are so strict regarding annulment! So how is it so common that married catholics get annulments?

Do you have statistics to back that up my dear friend or is it just your feeling?

 

[joanofarc2008]

I think one of the things that one has to realize is that annulments are extremely private matters. The details in there are usually very disturbing to say the least, and there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that you won’t see unless you are involved. It’s not an easy process at all. It’s a hard one. But it’s also a healing one. Those people who go through an annulment on average are not going to say “Oh I enjoyed it immensely, we had a great time.” They have to confront the things of their past, and expound on them in a very difficult way. They have to face their fears, and they have to truly examine what their life was like when they got married.

Are they common? Maybe. But they aren’t easy, nor are they anything I wish any person should have to go through. I do thank God that he has given a way for those who did not have a valid marriage to be examined and approved, so they can move on with their life and experience the true sacrament.

Thank you - I can say for me so far it has been a healing one but it has also been a frustrating one. When I say healing I mean in the same way an apendectomy is healing. Or a root canal - think no anesthesia for either maybe at the same time. Not only did I go through it but my friends relived it all too. This is the part that people do not understand. Of course the people that still live in his neck of the woods have no idea what he did and still think I am the sinful one. They think I filed for no reason after kicking him out of the house almost forcing him to find a new girlfriend who was married. But anyway - they don’t know about all of the abuse and everything that I endured behind the closed doors until the day I didn’t. The community was sure happy to stick up for him in the end though.

 

[1ke]

Porn addiction, contraception, and pre-marital sex.

I think the large number of annullments is just a reflection of the large number of people who have no business getting married but attempt to do so anyway.

Study after study shows that 25% of men and 9% of women in the west are addicted to porn. These people are either incapable of correctly understanding what marriage is supposed to be or incapable of actually living that understanding out in day to day life. These have no business getting married.

The same goes for contraception. If the studies are right and 90% of all Catholics use artificial contraception, then these couples are not open to life. Openness to life is a prerequisite for a valid marriage.

A man whose girlfriend has sex with him before the bond of matrimony should have no expectation that she remain chaste within the bond of matrimony. Likewise, a woman whose boyfriend insists on sex before marriage really shouldn’t have the expection that he will suddenly be able to control himself within marraige.

One has to question the validity of the matrimonian bond where contraception use is assumed prior to marriage and/or where one or both of the spouses is incapable of chastity within the boundaries of the marriage because of addiction to sexual sin or a past history of promiscuity prior to marriage. If there seems to be a large number of annullments, it is probably because a large number of marriages were never really marriages in the first place for exactly these reason.

-Tim-

None of the things you have written are grounds for nullity.

 

[joanofarc2008]

None of the things you have written are grounds for nullity.

Not per se - but they can be depending on context for instance a partner that says they are open to life during marriage prep but believes that open to life means using condoms or taking the pill while the other spouse believes that means having as many children as God wills them can be.

Porn could be the same thing if the addiction was hidden from the fiance/e at the time of the marriage and it affected the marriage.

As the above poster all of these things get into nitty-gritty case stuff that is closed and confidential.

 

[LaSainte]

Porn addiction, contraception, and pre-marital sex.

I think the large number of annullments is just a reflection of the large number of people who have no business getting married but attempt to do so anyway.

Study after study shows that 25% of men and 9% of women in the west are addicted to porn. These people are either incapable of correctly understanding what marriage is supposed to be or incapable of actually living that understanding out in day to day life. These have no business getting married.

The same goes for contraception. If the studies are right and 90% of all Catholics use artificial contraception, then these couples are not open to life. Openness to life is a prerequisite for a valid marriage.

A man whose girlfriend has sex with him before the bond of matrimony should have no expectation that she remain chaste within the bond of matrimony. Likewise, a woman whose boyfriend insists on sex before marriage really shouldn’t have the expection that he will suddenly be able to control himself within marraige.

One has to question the validity of the matrimonian bond where contraception use is assumed prior to marriage and/or where one or both of the spouses is incapable of chastity within the boundaries of the marriage because of addiction to sexual sin or a past history of promiscuity prior to marriage. If there seems to be a large number of annullments, it is probably because a large number of marriages were never really marriages in the first place for exactly these reason.

-Tim-

I’m sorry but I think this is out of line. Basically you are saying that a couple who has sex before marriage (with each other or someone else) or who chooses to use contraception ahead of time might not be validly married???

So basically, 90 or so percent of people.

Why stop there? How about people whose parents were divorced (how can they be expected to enter a valid marriage with such a poor example), or people who are overweight (with that little self-control, how can they be expected to control themselves in other ways)?

I think the OP is right. Some people want a “Catholic divorce” and they think "gee, wouldn’t it be great if my marriage was invalid? Let’s throw it at the wall and see what sticks. ". Then they fill out the paperwork and hope for the best.

 

[mamaslo]

Not per se - but they can be depending on context for instance a partner that says they are open to life during marriage prep but believes that open to life means using condoms or taking the pill while the other spouse believes that means having as many children as God wills them can be.

Porn could be the same thing if the addiction was hidden from the fiance/e at the time of the marriage and it affected the marriage.

As the above poster all of these things get into nitty-gritty case stuff that is closed and confidential.

So I wonder if it counts if the addiction part is known but out of ignorance the spouse doesn’t realize how bad it is for a marriage and how hiding is involved…

 

[joanofarc2008]

So I wonder if it counts if the addiction part is known but out of ignorance the spouse doesn’t realize how bad it is for a marriage and how hiding is involved…

IMO I think that is where due discretion comes in. You know who to ask that question of.

 

[chevalier]

There are plenty of people with problems that result in nullity decrees and there are also nullity decrees that wouldn’t necessarily withstand appellate review in Rome.

 

[1ke]

Not per se - but they can be depending on context for instance a partner that says they are open to life during marriage prep but believes that open to life means using condoms or taking the pill while the other spouse believes that means having as many children as God wills them can be.

Using contraception in marriage is not grounds for nullity. A **permanent **intention against children is grounds for nullity. That intention must exist prior to the marriage and be proven in the external forum.

These are not the same thing at all.

Porn could be the same thing if the addiction was hidden from the fiance/e at the time of the marriage and it affected the marriage.

Again, pornography use is not grounds for nullity. It is a sin but it is not grounds for nullity.

 

[joanofarc2008]

Using contraception in marriage is not grounds for nullity. A **permanent **intention against children is grounds for nullity. That intention must exist prior to the marriage and be proven in the external forum.

These are not the same thing at all.

Again, pornography use is not grounds for nullity. It is a sin but it is not grounds for nullity.

You are starting an argument where there is none - go back and look at what I just wrote. I did express this very clearly. Addiction that is withheld is grounds. Hiding an intention against life is grounds. It goes to Fraud and Deceit.

 

[FAB]

The rules are so strict regarding annulment! So how is it so common that married catholics get annulments?

What am I missing from this picture? It just seems like we have so many faithful catholics working so hard to legitimize divorce, and it’s really making me wonder how it’s even occurring through the church.

The Church in its wisdom recognizes the fault of human nature. The process isn’t cut and dry. In my diocese it is a year and half process at the min. The tribunal, must find that at the point that the marriage began, that there are compelling reasons to indicate that a true sacramental marrage was not being entered into on the part of one or both parties.
Testamony has to indicate that there was not an intent of premenance or to have children by example. Even though these question are asked during weddig prep, people lie.

The Church also want people to be able to heal after a divorce. This process does help in doing so and enables people to fully participate in the sacramental Church.

 

[mamaslo]

IMO I think that is where due discretion comes in. You know who to ask that question of.

No…who?

 

[Leegal]

The rules are so strict regarding annulment! So how is it so common that married catholics get annulments?

What am I missing from this picture? It just seems like we have so many faithful catholics working so hard to legitimize divorce, and it’s really making me wonder how it’s even occurring through the church.

This board is only a small representation of Catholics. You see annulments because those are the very people that come here to post questions about an annulment, but that’s not representative of everyone here or every Catholic – but the ones whose marriages are troubled.

There was another thread. Overall annulments are down. In the Diocese of Metuchen had 287 annulments granted in 1987. Recently the number was 47. I can’t look for the exact number, but it was a thread this week – but annulmment are down about 2,000 or 3,000 when the Church asked and 88% of the Dioceses responded with figures.

 

[joanofarc2008]

No…who?

I tried sending you a PM - but the person that answers those questions within the group that is more than qualified to do it.

 

[mtbender]

While only 338 marriages were annulled in the United States in 1968, 54,463 of them were declared viod in 1994, according to the Statistical Yearbook of the Church.

Pope John Paul II has been critical of the numbers of annulments granted. Most of them – 75 percent in 1994 – have been in the United States.

news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19970417&id=_OkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1QcGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6957,3350093

Source: 2005 Catholic Almanac
Annulment statistics for 2002
(the most recent year figures are available)
– Annulment hearings, worldwide: 56,246
– Annulments granted, worldwide: 46,092
Annulments by continent:
-Africa: 343
-Oceania: 676
-Asia: 1,562
-Europe: 8,855
-North America: 30,968
-South and Central America: 5,688

osv.com/OSV4MeNav/WhattheChurchTeaches/WTCTAnnulments/WhattheChurchTeachesTheDignityofMarriage/tabid/387/Default.aspx

According to Church statistics, in 2006, the U.S. Church issued 35,009 annulments. The vast majority, 27,534, were for invalid consent, according to the 2010 Catholic Almanac.

catholic-sf.org/news_select.php?newsid=18&id=57425

I think these numbers are alarming and we should be looking at the cause… if it isn’t a change in process and/or attitude toward the annulment process, than we certainly need to look at our pre-marital counseling within the Church.