Annulment: The Wedding That Was - How the Church Can Declare a Marriage Null (Paperback)

In an easy-to-read question-and-answer format, the book covers definitions of and conditions for the right to marry, issues of consent, public dimensions of marriage, functions of the various tribunal and court officials, stages of an investigation, and the personal and family effects of a declaration of nullity. The book also addresses common misconceptions about the reception of Communion by the divorced, the effect of annulments on children and the time factors and costs involved in the process.

From the Author
How the Church can declare a marriage null
Annulment is a flashpoint topic and evokes passionate responses. It seems many people know bits and pieces about the process and its effects, but few can explain what annulments are all about. Some people have heard second and third hand accounts of the process from friends, while others may have a distant family relative who has gone through it. Recently, there have been a number of books published in the United States that have called into question the entire concept and practice of granting annulments. Many people find the entire concept ludicrous. Still others believe annulments are a compassionate response by the Church to the divorced, but nonetheless, find it difficult to explain.

There are certainly many misconceptions surrounding annulments and you may have heard some of them. For instance: it costs thousands of dollars to get an annulment; you have to be a movie star or from a politically connected family; it makes the children illegitimate; there are too many of them granted in the United States; and, the Pope is opposed to annulments. These misconceptions abound both inside and outside the Church.

As a judge on Boston's Church court, I am confronted with these misconceptions and many questions daily. Catholics and those who are not Catholic have questions about the Church's marriage laws. Priests and other parochial ministers often call the tribunal for advice on issues of marriage. Since there is such widespread confusion on the topic of annulments, I have written this book. It is intended to answer most of the questions individuals have concerning marriage, divorce, annulment and remarriage in the Catholic Church.

The book's format is 101 questions and answers with a user-friendly index. Intended for a general audience, I use dozens of examples and cases to show how Church law relates to real life situations. I situate the concept of annulment in relation to the Church's understanding of marriage. It is my hope that the book will alleviate the concerns and answer the questions that most people have on the subject.

If you are considering applying for an annulment, the book will answer many of your initial questions and assist you as you move through the process. In addition, whether you are single, happily married, separated, divorced or remarried, you should find the book enlightening.

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