Anulments

[jazzytakara]

I was just wondering what factors must be met (or reasons) before the church will grant a married couple an annulment. I've heard that if the marriage is revealed to be invalid than that would constitute an annulment, but what makes something invalid. I understand that if someone was married under duress, but that doesn't happen everyday, but many people feel the need for annulment or divorce. I also heard that if say a women is being abused by her husband than they can 'separate living situations', in which they have to live in different places, but are still bound in marriage. To me that doesn't seem right if it is true, as a women who is being violently assaulted should be able to leave her husband for her own safety (or the safety of her children) and find a loving husband?

[Theoketos]

1. A marriage validly consented to and consummated is an unbreakable covenant here on Earth. The Church does not have the authority to dislove covenants.

2. In the case of abuse of the spouse, divorce is indeed permitted. Divorce and remarriage is not permitted for that would include adultery.

3. In most cases of abuse, it usually seems to be evidence that the person did not really consent to marriage. (This is not strictly the entire story in most cases.)

4. Here are the canons about marriage.

http://www.catholicdoors.com/misc/marriage/canonlaw.htm

[CatherineM]

In my experience working in the Tribunal, most annulments were granted due to the immaturity of the couple. This kind of immaturity has nothing to do with age. It has to do with whether the couple both understand what marriage really means. My experience in dealing with domestic violence issues is that the abusive spouse (and that is not automatically the husband) is quite immature and/or has chemical dependence issues. Chemical dependence isn't necessarily evidence of immaturity, but those addictions are often hidden from the spouse and/or the priest, and that is grounds for annulment. If the priest does know about it ahead of time, he will require much additional counseling, and often will refuse to marry the couple at all.