Pope Francis Simplifies Catholic Marriage Annulment Process

A symbol of marriage annulment

Photo courtesy: cruxnow.com

Pope Francis, on September 8, introduced a new law allowing for quicker decisions and removing automatic appeals to speed up and simplify the Catholic marriage annulment process, reports the National Post.

The annulment process of the Church has been under criticism for a long time for being complicated, expensive and out of reach of many Catholics, especially in poor countries where dioceses don't have marriage tribunals. Many Catholics having the right reasons for getting annulments suffered a lot due to this long-drawn unhelpful process. 

As a result, there were long-lasting demands for reforms of this process. You may read about it here: Pope Francis should consider the church's outdated annulment process (January 13, 2014), and, The Annulment Dilemma: Revisiting a Complicated Process (February 16, 20015). 

For more detailed information on Pope Francis' reform, Catholic marriage and annulment, kindly read the following:


Pope Reforms Catholic Marriage Annulment Process:

• Pope Francis Announces Changes for Easier Marriage Annulments 
• Pope issues major marriage annulment reforms
• Pope speeds up, simplifies Catholic marriage and annulment process
• Pope reforms Catholic Church's marriage annulment process
• Revamped annulment process focuses on speed, role of local Bishops 
• Pope Francis streamlines process for granting annulments
• The Pope's annulment move?It's a good thing, Vatican official says 
• Pope Francis Reforms Annulment Process: 9 things to know and share 

What and How of Catholic Marriage and Annulment:

• Catholic Beliefs on Catholic Marriage
• Catholic Beliefs on Marital Spirituality
• The Sacrament of Matrimony (from the Catechism of the Catholic Church)
• Catholic Wedding Q & A 
• Church Teachings on Annulments
• Marriage Annulments
• Understanding Annulments
• Catholic Marriage and Annulments
• Divorce, Annulments, and Remarriage
• Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage Annulments
• Frequently Asked Questions on Annulments
• 12 Myths about Marriage Annulments in the Catholic Church (Archdiocese of Baltimore, USA)
• Myths about marriage annulments in the Catholic Church (Diocese of Salt Lake City, USA)
• What Every Respondent Needs to Know About the Annulment Process
• What are the necessary circumstances that qualify a marriage for annulment in the Catholic Church?
• Annulment Nation (The USA, with 6% of the world's Catholics, accounts for 60% of the Church's annulments)
  

Causes or Grounds for Catholic Marriage Annulment:

• No Catholic Divorce: Grounds and Obstacles to Annulments
• Grounds for Marriage Annulment in the Catholic Church (St. Mary's Church, Waco, USA)
• Frequently Asked Questions about Reasons/Grounds for Obtaining Marriage Annulment
• Reasons for Annulment
• Grounds for Annulment