1. Fiction: Any marriage can be annulled if you know someone in the church or if you have enough money to convince the church. Fact: A marriage that began good and healthy can not be annulled by anyone, not even by the Church. The Church is obliged to honor a sound marriage because of Jesus’ teaching that marriage is sacred and lasts until the death of one of the spouses. An annulment is a declaration by church authorities that a marriage was defective from the beginning.
2. Fiction: If I have an earlier marriage annulled, my children will become illegitimate. Fact: Children who were born in a legal marriage will always be considered “legitimate”.
3. Fiction: Annulments take many years to complete. Fact: The present processing time with the Tribunal is about 18 months.
4. Fiction: A formal annulment in the Church costs the couple many thousands of dollars. Fact: The present fee to process a formal annulment is $600. If the case requires a consultant with a psychiatrist, that consultation costs the couple about $175, per hour, which they pay to the psychiatrist. The annulment has been at that level for about thirty years. If the individual has trouble paying this fee, they can either pay over time or ask their parish for help. No person should be denied an annulment because they cannot afford it! The diocese or the church makes no “profit” from processing annulments. The $600 fee permits the Tribunal to “break even” and not have to assess parishes for this service.
We hope that this brief article will help to dispel the myths or fiction that discourage people from seeking the healing and graces that can come to a person or a family when a defective marriage is officially annulled and their new marriage is blessed by the Church!