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Catholic Marriage Annulment - Page 2

I actually talked to a priest prior to getting married and asked about this and he said the following:

Yes you will be married. However, this is more of a meaning that you are expected to act in a husbandly manner. No affairs and treat your wife with respect! However, the Church does not really recognize this marriage because of the reason you can void it...

Basically, the church says "Yes" Since you are married outside the Church, we do expect you to act as though you are married. However, there is not much of a penalty if you divorce, because we really didn't bless the union anyway.

What I took from that was that the Catholic Church wants you to act with respect to yourself, your wife and the Church if you elect to marry outside of the faith. Therefore, we will acknowledge the marriage...even if we don't like it!

Annulment Marriage Catholic

So essentially if you marry outside the Church is that a sin - are you living together as it were?

Wouldn't most Catholics go for this kind of marriage (marrying just by law without the church's blessing) that way if something goes wrong they do not have to worry about the difficulty of getting an Annulment?

Catholic Marriage Annulment Catholicism Studies

I wouldn't say that most Catholics would go for this kind of marriage. Catholics like to marry from within the faith for the most part. It is particularly still true amongst the Irish and Italians.

I would say that the "story book wedding" is only possible from within a church. This is the reason that many mixed religion couples convert to one religion upon marriage. This is a bit easier to swallow when we are talking the differences between the various Christian religions. There is that fundamental base that still resides. However, when you start crossing religions from a totally different base, this compromise is virtually impossible. But it really comes down to that "story book", "walking down the aisle" wedding and that is only possible with instruction and the blessing from the Church.

Rather off topic, but... between, the instruction pretty much results in both parties becoming Catholic. So if one side is not willing, there most likely won't be a Catholic Church Wedding

The key to that last post was that you don't even have to get an annulment for that situation. That is called a Lack of Form Case.

As far as the sin question goes, the Church already took care of that issue. By saying that the acknowledge the marriage (sort of), they are expecting you to act with the respect and dignity that is reserved for marriage and thus eliminating the sinful feeling their stance has on the union.

In truth, it is not a "get out of jail free card". For those that take it so easily, I am sure their religous beliefs are not that strong and sinful living is not a problem for them. For those that take marriage seriously, then the church has said that your union is ok...not perferred.

Edited: Vincenzo on 6th Feb, 2007 - 3:06am

Page 2 Annulment Marriage Catholic

Elizabeth Barton once said, "Pope Clement VII shall suffer divine punishment if he should follow the king's call for an annulment."

Annulment Marriage Catholic

Pope Francis today reformed the process by which Catholics may annul their marriages.

The three main changes are:

Eliminating a second review by a cleric before a marriage can be nullified.

Giving bishops the ability to fast-track and grant the annulments themselves in certain circumstances -- for example, when spousal abuse or an extramarital affair has occurred.

Making the process free, except for a nominal fee for administrative costs. Ref. CNN