Annulment: The Wedding That Was: How the Church Can Declare a Marriage Null

by Michael Smith Foster

Book Overview

To most people, the annulment process is shrouded in mystery and is therefore a source of misunderstanding and resentment. This straightforward primer explains the concepts and procedures surrounding annulment and the mechanics of canon law. Using clear, simple language and dozens of concrete examples, the author--a judge on a tribunal--demystifies the procedure while showing how it does not contradict Church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809138441
• ISBN13: 9780809138449
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent book on Annulments

This is a very well written book with serious information for those who are considering an annulment through the Catholic Church. Fr. Foster is learned and knowledgable about Canon Law, and his website offers you the ability to have his expertise guide you through the annulment process. We were more than pleased with the results. I'm very glad I bought this book and had his help in preparing our annulment. It made things very easy and it became a healing process, not an anxiety ridden one. It was wonderful.

Excellent book for dispelling the myth of the annulment process

I have worked in the field of church law for over 20 years. I have met with over 1000 petitioners who really don't understand the annulment process. All they understand is that they would like to enter into a new marriage and they want to be able to "make it right with the church." And, on the other side is their ex-spouse who doesn't understand as well, what is going on when they receive their letter from the tribunal informing them of their ex-spouse's application. What I have begun to do is to send them a copy of this book, in advance of my meeting with them. When that happens, their defenses are down, they understand so much better what is happening and their questions are no longer harassing or attacking. They have such a clearer picture of the process and they are much more able to handle the situation because they have had it explained to them in language that they understand. I would encourage any tribunal to have a number of these books on their shelves, so that when someone appears at their door who is beleaguered, and bewildered, just hand them the book, give them a chance to read it and your worries will be over- they now have a clearer picture of what the process is all about.

To be first and only ... for marriage is a bounded eternal state

What is a Catholic annulment & why do I need one? Written by Jacqueline Rapp, JD, JCL, MCL Rapp Canonical Consulting Louisville, KY As a judge on a marriage nullity tribunal, I run into people, on a daily basis, who do not understand the declaration of nullity (or annulment) process and they do not understand why they need an annulment to begin with. It's been my understanding that this is because there are some misconceptions as to what the Catholic Church teaches about marriage, and therefore what the Catholic Church teaches about relationship that are not marriage (therefore needing an annulment). I hope to clarify some of this for those who may need this information. What is an annulment? A Catholic annulment, or a declaration of nullity or invalidity, is a statement of fact, by the Catholic Church, that a valid marriage (as defined by the Catholic Church) never existed. Therefore, it is not a Catholic divorce, since divorce looks at the moment that the relationship broke down and says, "there was something and now we are ending it." The annulment process says, "from the very beginning, there wasn't what was necessary for this relationship to be called a marriage." The annulment process is definitely NOT saying that there was no love involved and there wasn't some form of relationship there. It is also not saying that there wasn't a valid civil contract (thus, all children born of this valid civil contract are legitimate). This process looks at an entirely different realm - the spiritual one - as this is the Catholic Church's domain. Why is an annulment necessary? The Catholic Church teaches that marriage (as created by God for all people), if created, is permanent, exclusive, fruitful and ordered to the good of the spouses. This means that marriage is until death parts them - and not divorce (permanent); it is between one man and one woman (exclusive); it is open to the procreation and education of children (fruitful); and creates a relationship that is an equal partnership of the whole of life that strives to the growth of the two people involved (ordered to the good of the spouses). Because the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is permanent, and that IF it was created that no human power can separate what God has joined together (not even the civil government who has the power to end the civil contract that they call marriage), then once two people stand in front of God and everybody and IF they create what the Catholic Church defines as marriage, then it cannot be dissolved. That marriage bond is in place until death. So, no new marriage covenant can be created with someone else, because the party who has been married before still is bound to that first person, since the bond, if formed, cannot be ended with a civil divorce. Therefore, the Catholic Church investigates, through the annulment process, whether an actual marriage, as defined by the Church, came into being. If they determine, by examining the facts presente

A Helpful Guide For Those in the Annulment Process

Annulling a marriage is one of the thorniest practices of the Roman Catholic Church. People who are granted annulments are given a whole new lease on life, but for those who are denied an annulment, the news can be devastating. For Catholics, an annulment means that a sacramental marriage never took place. The most common reaction to this is "I went to the wedding, what do you mean a marriage never took place?" People begin to wonder if an annulment means that children from such unions are illegitimate (no). Others wonder what right the Church has to declare a marriage null, and see the process as judgmental and vindictive. Others believe that annulments are only granted to those willing to pay a hefty price tag. With so much negative press, it is no wonder why so many people find the annulment process intimidating and decide not to pursue having a marriage annulled. Michael Smith Foster, a Catholic priest and canon lawyer who works at the Marriage Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Boston has written a clear, easy to understand book answering the many questions of what an annulment is, and what an annulment is not. The book is published by Paulist Press, and is set up in a question and answer format, like many book released by this publisher. In discussing the annulment process, the author also explains what a Catholic marriage is supposed to be. His style is pastoral and non-threatening. The book is compassionate and hopeful for people who have been hurt by a marriage coming apart.While this book will be most helpful to people going through the annulment process and those who are ministering to them, it will be of interest to any Catholics who want to understand more about this procedure and what the Church truly teaches about marriage.

This book is user-friendly, rich in concept and practicality

This book is a user-friendly one. The question and answer format is used to its highest possiblity. It deals with all of those questions we never bothered to ask our high school religion nun or college theologian, and now wish we had. As both a civil and a canon lawyer dealing in divorce and annulments, I cannot think of one question not asked asked and answered here. The index makes it even easier to navigate the concepts explored. The result is a book that explains the concepts but also tells you how to deal practically with them in the context of the Church's laws and canons. This book takes the whole package of married life and puts it into Catholic perspective. This start to finish result, especially starting at the time of the marriage, is the crux of what so many do not understand about the Catholic Church and marriage. Foster's approach is totally successful just because of its simplicity. The book should be read by those thinking of marriage and not just those far down the road. It's assistance to both is what makes this book so important.