The following comes from a Sept. 7 posting on the website Whispers in the Loggia.
It’s not intentional – we think – but whatever the reason, Stateside holidays in the reign of Francis have invariably brought significant developments on the Vatican beat, whether they’re PopeTrips over Memorial Day and Thanksgiving, doc-drops on the 4th of July or Consistories every President’s Weekend…
…and lo and behold, just when this Labor Day was finally looking to be a last gasp of calm two weeks before his arrival in Washington, he did it again: at Roman Noon this Monday, the Holy See suddenly announced a major midday press conference tomorrow to release two surprise legal texts “on the reform of the canonical process for causes of the declaration of the nullity of marriage”: put simply, the ever-charged question of annulments.
Closing out the work of an ad hoc group of a dozen canonists Francis tasked with studying the issue in the quiet of August last year, the documents – both issued motu proprio (i.e. on the Pope’s own initiative) – will be called Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (“The Gentle Judge, The Lord Jesus”) for the Latin Code of Canon Law, and Mitis et misericors Iesus (“The Meek and Merciful Jesus”) for the 1991 text governing the Eastern Churches.
That the release of the texts was announced only on the eve of their publication – a striking contrast to the usual week’s notice for major Vatican documents – signals the Pope’s intent for the move to come as a complete surprise, and as an ostensible means of short-circuiting any attempt by critics of the changes to derail whatever he’s decided. In addition, that the commission completed its work in roughly a year is about the closest thing you’ll see to “lightning speed” for a process of this kind: to use a counter-example, the consultation and drafting of Benedict XVI’s tightened-up global norms on sex-abuse extended over at least three years before their release in 2010.
While no specifics of their contents are yet known, the announced titles and formats of the texts hint not only at the most significant revamp of annulment procedures at least since the 1983 publication of the revised Latin Code – and, unlike then, a loosening of the process this time – but likewise an overhaul of the relevant canons in each of the volumes which would enact a permanent, global, perhaps sweeping change to the laws overseeing the church’s discernment of whether a valid sacramental marriage indeed exists.
Theresa, “if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it isn’t a chicken” ; )… Things are out of control and I believe our Lord is shaking his head in disbelief.
The annulment process in the U.S. is fair, just, and efficient in most cases, always with an appeal to the Roman Rota as a possibility. In much of the world, it is very cumbersome and very difficult to get a just decision in my experience of having worked with immigrants for 23 years. It will be interesting to see if the Holy Father can extend to the rest of the world the justice and mercy regarding invalid marriages.
Good comments Father.
Well said Fr. Richard. Unfortunately some Catholics seem to rank divorce next to abortion. Sometimes we divorced Catholics are forced to squirm in our pew when a priest doesn’t know his words are condemning people.
To be honest I thought annulment was Catholic divorce until I went through the process.
If someone doesn’t really understand the process maybe they should just hold off on judging it.
With respect Father, Fair ? It isn’t about what’s fair its about what’s Right. Commandments are just that and not suggestions. We must overflow Heaven with prayer that Holy Mother Church will be protected with a firm hand.
Today – Sept 8.
It is important to note that there were NO changes to the Doctrine of the Faith regarding divorce,
or divorce and civil remarriage.
These were procedural changes only – to Code of Canon Law.
The Doctrine on these topics can be found in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” – CCC #1648 – 1651.
Sept 8 – There are NO changes that would effect the requirements of God regarding marriage.
“Thou shall not commit Adultery” – GOD’s Commandment – Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18.
“Thou shall not covet thy Neighbor’s wife” – GOD’s Commandment – Ex 20:17 ; Deut 5.20.
JESUS about divorce and remarriage – Mk 10:6-12; Mt 5:32.
JESUS about adultery, mercy, and required repentance – “Go and Sin NO more” Jn 8:11.
Exactly MAC. People need to understand that the church is firm.
I hope that it is merciful for the spouse and any children left behind.
ANY dishonesty on the part of each individual involved in the annulment process – will have answer directly to Jesus at their particular judgment.
This includes EVERYONE – Bishop, Diocese Tribunal staff, Person or persons seeking an annulment, etc.
God will NOT be mocked.
One can not fool God.
Nothing is worth going to Hell over.
Does this mean that something on SS marriage and blessing of SS unions will be done in the vein?
NO.
I read on another site that there is inclusion of extra marital affairs as a reason to secure an annulment. If this is true does it mean that all an adulterer has to do is go to confession and then be able to marry the person with whom he had the affair with?
Extra-marital affairs could possibly be used to bolster whatever evidence that a sacramental marriage never existed. But I don’t see how it could be “grounds” for an annulment on its own. The process is not a divorce, it’s a determination whether or not the marriage was valid.
What if one of the parties contests the annulment? Will it proceed to the bishop or on to another Tribunal?
First the Diocese Bishop. If one party protests the decision, it goes to the nearest Archdiocese or to the Roman Rota.
Therefore there are checks and balances.
Among the first things Pope Francis told us was his devotion to Mary Undoer of Knots. His pontificate to date appears to be more of a challenge to Mary than a devotion. Laws are not changed only to improve on the current law. The change must be weighted against the turmoil and chaos it will cause in society and the church. While we must wait and see what the results are it is hard to imagine an improvement considering the the factions in the church and societies deconstruction of marriage in genearl. Please pray to Mary for her interseccion and also for Pope Francis.
I agree with Jake– the pontificate of Pope Francis does seem to be more of a challenge to Our Blessed Mother, than a true devotion! Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, helps us with difficult situations, only according to the Divine Will of God– NOT according to selfish, misguided human whims of the “Me-Generation,” to find short-cuts to escape adult responsibilities!
It is time for the Pope to preach on Catholic couples living out their holy vows in the Sacrament of Marriage correctly, as a RELIGIOUS man or woman, committed to practicing their Catholic faith, with love and devotion first, to Christ! Today’s world has too many “Me-Generation,” self-gratifying-only, secular and un-Christian influences, extremely damaging to the Sacrament of Catholic Marriage, Home, and Family! Are many Catholic couples seeking annulments, truly devout, practicing Catholics, in the first place? Is the Pope only trying to appease “Catholics In Name Only,” who are not truly sincere nor interested, in the practice of their Faith??
CINOS don’t care about the annulment process. They don’t care what the Bible and CCC state.
By the way even Jesus allowed an exception. Read your Bible Mt 5:32.
The Diocese Marriage Tribunal investigates and only determines if the marriage WAS VALID at the time of the marriage.
We now have Catholic Divorce. ¡Aleluya!
Just kidding.
Elizabeth M.
Your questions are good ones.
1. Extra marital affairs: AKA adultery. Always have been considered as being a sign of the inability or lack of desire to enter into a lifelong sacramental union.
2. Even if a first marriage is annulled, marriage to the partner of an adulterous relationship would not be allowed if the truth were known and if the two attempted to be married in church.
3. If one of the parties contests the results, there is an appeal process that can be followed, all the way to the Vatican if needs be.
Adulterous spouses are not a cause for anullment, you are incorrect. You may be thinking about the cases in which a spouse is in another relationship during the engagement and continues with that relationship after the marriage. THAT indicates lack of intent. But if a spouse, after 10 years, starts having an extramarital affair, that is not grounds for an anullment.
One of the fundamental problems with anullment is that a spouse can be the victim of horrible abuse, a philandering spouse, a spouse that molests children, steals all the “community property”, and utterly victimizes the innocent spouse, and yet the Church says that her “marriage” is forever and she cannot get out of it. It is her “cross to bear”. This is just about the…
If a spouse never really intended to be faithful it is grounds for annulment/
That’s what I just said.
The more clear this process becomes, the more Catholics and non-catholics will come to understand it and the less they will ridicule it. It is one of those folk-lore things about the Church. Too often, Catholics think of it as a “catholic divorce” process for the rich based on archaic canon laws that don’t make sense in current times. Very few of us know what all the legal stuff means and as a result, the majority don’t care. For non-catholics, it is right up there with voodoo religion. Most divorced catholics I know just continue going to church on Sunday, raising their kids in the Sacraments and getting married again without going through all the legal stuff. Most Priest don’t ask, don’t see and don’t tell.
Linda Maria, you’re trying to interrogate people about their “integrity” when they seek a declaration of nullity, whereas Pope Francis is basically saying this:
– the Catholic Church does not “grant” an annulment, but rather, after study, decares what is, and has always been (the marriage is null because of xxx).
– the Catholic Church should not charge poor Catholics a fortune for a legal process that is primarily spiritual: in God’s sight, this marriage was NEVER valid because of xxx.
I think what you’ll find that this ” merciful and humble” pope has just carried off an obamacare-style fait accomplit and has rendered the upcoming Synod redundant. After all the hue and outcry of faithful Catholics about preserving marriage and family even Pope Francis could see which way the wind was blowing and that having a major confrontation would be a major setback to the Kasperian agenda so he broke with tradition, completely disregarded all the safeguards in place to protect Church teaching, and slipped these rather innocuous seeming little changes in annulment proceedings IN A LETTER and has left the rest to “interpretation”. It’s all hope…
…and change under the guise of mercy. Mary, pray for us!
Excellent post Dana!
Orthodox Rabbi . . . Says Pope Emeritus Benedict Should Speak Out Before Synod
September 10, 2015
https://thewandererpress.com/frontpage/orthodox-rabbi-says-pope-emeritus-benedict-should-speak-out-before-synod/
….well said, Dana. And while the masses are swayed by the public relations campaign that redefines authoritative override as “humility” those who are truly humble will work within the realm of Providence and necessity to do what is required to uphold the Faith.
The focus seems to be on the perceptions of what the cup looks like, not the content. But that is the way of the world.
Hail Mary, Virgin Most Sorrowful, pray for us!
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