Expert: Fr. Michael - 2/22/2011

Question
I've gotten an annulment from my first marriage which lasted 22 yrs. Does the church allow you get a second annulment?

Answer
Sorry, it would be highly inappropriate for us to comment on the complexities of individual cases here.  We would advise you to put the case to your local traditional priest, who will guide you in the matter.  If you need a referral, see the Official Traditional
Catholic Directory at www.traditio.com/nat.htm.

As to annulments, annulments from the New Order sect are problematical because the grounds in the Novus Ordo canon law are significantly different from the traditional canon law of Roman Catholicism.  Moreover,  they have been used to produce a scandalous "divorce mill" in the New Order sect.  Traditionally, there are few cases that truly warrant an annulment, after a detailed investigation of the facts and arguments on both sides.

Many people do not understand what an annulment, or (more accurately) declaration of nullity, is.  It has nothing to do with what happened *after* the marriage was entered into.  It relates only to an invalidating defect *at the time of* the marriage that rendered the contact null and void.  After all, the marriage contract (exchange of promises) was publicly entered into "for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Remember the warning before the marriage contract is entered into:  "If anyone knows why these two should not be joined in Holy Matrimony, let him speak now or forever hold his peace"?  That is intended to ferret out any nullifying causes before the marriage is entered into, for example, one of the parties is already married, one of the parties is under the age of consent, or the parties are related to one another in too close a degree by consanguinity or affinity.

Chances are that the "annualment" to which you refer was itself spurious.  You really need to get some spiritual direction from a traditional priest.