Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 9/15/2006

Question
Thank you, but according to the Church's rules of annulment, would the hard cases I mentioned be considered sufficient grounds for annulment?
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Followup To

Question -
Hi. What is the Church's position on divorce/annulment? I guess I'm really wondering about so-called "hard cases", such as when one spouse commits adultery, is physically abusive, is a drug addict or drunkard, becomes a homosexual, gets a sex-change operation, abandons the Faith, etc.

Answer -
Peace

dear Johann

First, I feel I need to clarify something. Divorce and annulment are two very different acts. A Divorce is claim that the marriage bond has been broken. A Catholic Decree of Annulment is a decree by a proper authority in the Church that says that Sacramental marrige bond never existited, despite appearences.

Catholic Decree of Annulments are based on facts before the attempt at a sacramental marriage bond.

The Church reconized a possible "need" for a legal civil divorce in most the hard cases you mentioned and a few others. Divorced persons can receive the Sacraments, so long as they don't attempt a "marriage" before recieving a Decree of Annulment from a proper authority of the Church.


         your servant but His first
         george  

Answer
Peace


dear Johann--

Well, they could be evidence of the facts before the attempt to the marriage bond. For example if a spouse hid the fact of their homosexuality but later revealed after they were "married". Abusive "spouse" might be seen as proof that the abused "spouse" didnt willfully seek the sacrament.

For more details that might effect a case, it would be probly best to consult your pastor or some other local priest. Especially if its a real case and not one of theory.

         your servant in Christ
         george