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10/03/2016

NewOxfordReview

WHATCOULDGOWRONG?

Pope Francis Streamlines the Annulment Process


ByPhilipC.L.Gray

March2016

PhilipC.L.Gray,J.C.L.,isPresidentoftheSaintJosephFoundation
(stjosephcanonlaw.com7409372054),anonprofitorganizationthatassiststhe
faithfulinprotectingtheirrightsundercanonlaw.Thisarticleoriginallyappeared
insomewhatdifferentforminthefoundationsnewsletterChristifidelis(vol.33,no.
6Nov.4,2015)andisreprintedwithpermission.
OnSeptember8,2015,PopeFrancissignificantly
changedthewaytheChurchhandlescasesof
marriagenullity,commonlyknownasannulments.His
motuproprioMitisIudexDominusIesuseffectedthese
changesintheWestern(Latin)ChurchMitiset
MisericorsIesusdidthesamefortheEasternCatholic
Churches.Itisimportanttonotethattherevisionsonly
affectecclesiasticallawshavingtodowithprocedures
forhearingannulmentcases.Actingasthechief
legislatoroftheuniversalChurch,thePopeusedhis
powertoalterecclesiasticaldiscipline.Tobeclear:He
didnotproscribedoctrine.Hedidnotredefine
marriage.Hedidnotdefineamatteroffaithormorals.
Thesechangesinlawtakeplaceduringatimeoframpantmoralrelativismthat
hasimbeddeditselffirmlywithinmodernthoughtandpracticeincludingthe
thoughtsandpracticesofclerics,religious,andlaymenwhocatechizeand
influencemillionsofpeople.Oftentimes,thismoralrelativismisexpressedinthe
Churchbywayofanegligencethatencouragesacoexistencewithevilrather
thanaffirmativeactiontodenounceit.Forexample,whathavebishopsandpriests
donetodecreasethenumberofdivorcesandencouragefidelityinmarriage?
WherewastheoutragefromAmericanbishopsovertheSupremeCourts
recognitionofsamesexmarriage?Whatisthemostaffluentbishopsconference
intheworlddoingtoaddressanevilthatcausedthedestructionofSodomand
GomorrahandwascitedasacauseforthedestructionofJerusalemandtheexile
oftheJews(cf.Isa.3:9Jer.23:14etal.)?
TheHistoricalContext
Inthemideighteenthcentury,BenedictXIVwaspope.TheProtestant
Reformation,theCounterReformation,andthedefeatoftheOttomanEmpirehad
occurredalmosttwocenturiesearlier.Catholicismwassettlingintoacoexistence
withProtestantisminEurope,andtheChurchsinfluenceinsecularsocietywas
declining.CatholicswereadoptingProtestantviewsandvalues.Catholics
married,divorced,obtainedannulments,andremarriedmultipletimesovershort
periods.ThePopewasappalled.Helamentedthatmanywouldgothroughthree
marriages,andsomeevensixmarriages,inalifetime.Theannulmentprocess
waseasy.Ifcouplesagreedonthefactsoftheirsituation,theycouldobtainan
annulmentwithouttheneedforcumbersomebureaucraticprocesses.Asthe
familygoes,sogoessociety,andfamilylifeintheCatholicChurchwasonthe
vergeofcollapseduringtheseyears.

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BenedictXIVacteddecisively.InhisbullDeiMiseratione(1741)heinstitutednew
proceduresandelementstotheannulmentprocess,includingtheappointmentby
thelocalbishopofadefensormatrimonii(defenderofmatrimony),whosejobit
wastodefendthemarriagebonditselfinordertoprotecttheinstitutionsof
marriageandthefamily.
Overtime,thesenewelementshadaninstructiveeffect.Bythetwentiethcentury,it
wouldberareinEuropeorintheAmericasforanyone,includingnonCatholics,to
believethattheCatholicChurchalloweddivorceandremarriage.Yes,Catholics
stillhadaffairsandviolatedtheirmarriagevows,buttheChurchsclearposition
becameanoccasionformanycouplestoreconcile.Infact,boththe1917and
1983editionsoftheCodeofCanonLaw,inreflectionandapplicationofdivine
law,obligatepastorsandcouplestopursuereconciliationbeforeanannulment
evenifaseparationordivorcehasalreadyoccurred,andevenifthemarriagewas
invalid(cf.can.5291,1676,etal.).
In1972theHolySeeallowedwhatwerecalledAmericanProceduralNorms
(APN)tobeusedexperimentallyintheU.S.TheAPNprovidedmuchthesame
proceduresthatPopeFrancissrevisionsnowprovide:Inmostcircumstances,
onlyonejudgeneedhearacase,therewasnomandatoryrecoursetoasecond
instancereview,andveryshorttimeframeswereestablishedfortheentireprocess
sothatcasescouldbecompletedwithineightmonths.Manycanonistsandpriests
hopedthattheAPNwouldbeintroducedintothe1983CodeofCanonLaw.But

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aftermorethantenyearsoftheexperiment,PopeSt.JohnPaulIIrejectedthem.
TheAPNwereconsideredafailureduetosignificant,negativeeffectsonCatholic
marriagesandfamilylifeintheU.S.
WhatsAlltheFuss?
Ifyouwokeupandfoundafireraginginyourhome,whatwouldyoutakewithyou
outofthehouse?Wouldyougoforirreplaceableitemsthathavesignificant
meaning,orwouldyougrabthelatestnewspaper?Whenthefiredepartment
comes,thefiremendontthrowfuelontotheblazetogivethemselvesmoretodo.
Theyjustdotheirjob.Itsasimplefact:Weprotectwhatisimportanttous.
Unfortunately,MitisIudexDominusIesusremovesnecessaryprotectionsprovided
bycanonlaw.Theworldisburningtheinstitutionofmarriagewiththefiresof
hedonism(fornication,divorce,abortion,samesexunions,etc.),andthePope
givesusaneasierwaytoclaimfreedomfromourspouses.Hereshow:
Noautomaticreview:Reflectingafundamentalprincipleoftheancientsystemof
(civil)Romanlaw,allaffirmativedecisionsissuedbyaChurchtribunalmustbe
reviewedbyahighercourtandeitherratifiedbythatcourtorsubmittedtoan
ordinaryexaminationattrial.Thismandatorysecondinstancereviewisacheck
andbalanceintendedtodiscouragesubjectivity,collusion,andlaxityinthe
exerciseofjusticeintheChurchsjudiciary.Manycharacterizethisasan
automaticappeal.Itisnotanappealbutanobligatoryreviewintrinsictothis
systemofjustice.PopeFrancishasabolishedthismandatorysecondinstance
reviewformarriagenullitycases.
Fewerjudges:Canonicaltrialsrequireatribunalofatleastthreejudgestoissuea
decision.Thisrequirementalsoprovidesacheckandbalanceinfavorof
objectivityandjustice.ThecurrentCodeofCanonLawallowsconferencesof
bishopstoallowasingleclericaljudge(deaconorpriest)toissueadecisionin
marriagenullitycasesduringthefirstinstancetrial,thoughbishopsarenot
obligatedtoallowonlyonejudge.Secondinstancereviewsmustretainthreeor
morejudges.Francishasregularizedtheuseofasolejudge.Withtheabolitionof
amandatorysecondinstancereview,marriagecaseswillnowbedecided
habituallybyasinglecleric.
Rejectionofanappeal:Currently,asecondinstancetribunalmustfollowavery
specificprocesstodeterminewhetheranappealmadeagainstalowercourtwill
beheard.Theinitialdecisiontoheartheappealorratifythelowercourtisgiven
byadecreethatexplainsthemotivationofthethreejudgesinvolved.ThePope
hasaddedthepossibilityofasecondinstancetribunaltodispensefromsucha
processandissuearejectionoftheappealinlimine(literally,atthegate).This
simplymeansthattheheadofasecondinstancetribunal,oroneproperly
empoweredbylawordelegation,couldrejectanappealsummarilyandsimply
issuealettertothateffect.
PopeFrancissintentionistolimitthenumberofcasesheardonappeal.As
expresslystatedinhismotuproprio,asecondinstancetribunalcouldrejectan
appealinlimineifitbelievestheappellantisabusingtherighttoappealwithan
evidentlackofsupportingdocumentation.Anotherreasonistermedinstrumental
appeal,meaningtheappealisintendedtoharmtheotherpartybydraggingout
theprocess.
Thenewprocess:Thediocesanbishopisthefirstjudgeofhisdiocesethatis,
regardlessofhistrainingorbackground,everydiocesanbishop,byvirtueofhis
consecrationandoffice,supervisestheadministrationofjusticeinhisdioceseand
maychoosetoserveasajudgeinanytrialconductedbyhisdiocesantribunal.
Francishasnowobligatedbishopstoactassolejudgesinallfasttrackedcases
withintheirrespectivedioceses.
Thenewfasttrackprocessistobeappliedincasesinwhichtheallegednullityof
themarriageissupportedbyparticularlycleararguments.Ofnote,supportedby
particularlyclearargumentswouldapplyincaseswhenboththemanandwoman
inthemarriagenullityprocessagreetothefundamentalfactsassociatedwiththe
claimofnullity.Thisisadeparturefromcanon15362,whichdoesnotallowa
judgetoarriveatmoralcertitudeinfavorofmarriagenullityfromthetestimonyof
thepartiesalone.
ACanonLawyersAnalysis
Inmyopinion,thesechangestotheannulmentprocesswillproveharmfultothe
virtueofjusticeanddiminishnecessarysafeguardsthatprotectthesanctityof
marriageandthefamily.Hereswhy:
Anylegitimateandjustsystemoflawprovideschecksandbalancesagainst
subjectivity,collusion,andanyotherelementthatmightobstructtheexecutionof
justice.Forcenturies,marriagenullitytrialshavereliedontheelementof
mandatorysecondinstancereviews,threejudgepanelsinthefirstinstance,and
theproceduresusedonappealtosafeguardobjectivityandtruth.Removingthese
elementswithoutprovidingotherchecksandbalancessubstantiallyaltersthe
systemoflawandcreatessignificantloopholesthatallowunjustpractices.
Forexample,Iknowofmanycasesinwhichapetitionerboughtanannulment.In
onecase,Iactuallysawaletteridentifyingtherewardtobegiven.Inothercases,I
knowofjudgeswhorendereddecisionsoutoffearofreprisalbytheirbishopor
thejudicialvicar.Morecommonly,mosttribunaljudgesIhaveencounteredinthe
U.S.demandalowerthresholdofprooftoarriveatmoralcertitudethandemanded
bypapalinstructionsandlongstandingjurisprudence.Inmyexperience,thefacts
surroundingthemarriagesinquestionoftenhavelittlevalue.Ihavelongusedthe
nowremovedelementstoensureobjectivehearingsformyclients.Theresults
havebeenstaggering:Morethanninetypercentofthedecisionsissuedagainst
myclientswereoverturnedonappeal.Insomecases,correctiveactionwastaken
againsttribunalpersonnel.EffectiveDecember8,2015,thosesafeguardsno
longerexist.
Myconcernsaboutremovingessentialelementsofaprocessapplyalsotothe
innovationofafasttrackprocessforparticularcasesofmarriagenullity.This
innovationissimilartocertainelementsoftheAPNandpre1741processes.It
wasthefailureofthoseprocedurestoprovideobjectivelyfortheprotectionof

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rightsthatledtotheirdemise.
Theinnovationofinliminerejectionofappealsisdisturbing.Itisheldasamatter
ofnaturallawthatapersonsrighttoappealisinalienable.Irecognizethatthis
innovationintheprocessdoesnotabolishtherighttoappeal.Ialsounderstand
thattheimplementationoflawmustbereasonable,andthatunreasonable
appealsshouldberejected.Nonetheless,giventheaversionofmanyAmerican
tribunalstoevaluatethefactsofamarriagenullitypetitionobjectivelyand
comprehensively,Iamconcernedabouthowthiswillbedoneandaboutthe
motivationsusedtorejectappeals.
Currently,inliminerejectionsofappealsareanelementoftheadministrative
appealprocessattheApostolicSignatura.However,iftheSupremeTribunal
rejectsacaseinlimine,theappellanthastherighttodemandafullhearingfrom
thatTribunalsCongresso.Inotherwords,thoughtheprefectorsecretarymight
rejectanappeal,theappellantcanforceapanelofprelatestoreviewthecase
andissueadecisiononthemeritsoftheappeal.Ifsuchasafeguardisnot
providedinmarriagenullityappeals,thisinnovationtogetherwiththelossof
threejudgesandthelossofamandatorysecondinstancereviewallowsfor
significantabuses.
Inhismotuproprio,Franciscitestheexampleofinstrumentalappealsbynon
Catholicswhohavealreadyremarriedcivillyasapotentialreasontorejectan
appealinlimine.Thismeansasecondinstancejudgemustdeterminethe
appellantsintentionsforappealingandmaydismisstheappealwithoutahearing
ontheevidence.Thepotentialforabuseisimmense.
ItisimportanttonotethatmostmarriagenullitycasesintheU.S.arenotcurrently
contestedi.e.,bothpartiesseekthefreedomtoremarryandusuallygetwhat
theywant.Thecurrentprocessalsoallowsforarejectionofanappeal,with
minimalreviewbythehighercourt.Giventheveryhighpercentageofcases
overturnedonappealandtheabilityofahighercourttorejectanappealinthe
currentsystem,Iwonderwhatvaluetheinliminerejectionwouldactuallyhavein
anobjectiveprocess.
ItisalsoimportanttonotethattheHolyFatherexpresslyintendedtostreamline
theannulmentprocessinordertoprovideforthesalvationofsouls.Hewants
peopleinirregularunionsthedivorcedandremarriedtohavegreater
opportunitytoreconcilewiththeChurchandreceivethesacramentsagain.Herein
liesasignificantproblem.
Divinelawintrinsicallytiesthesalvationofsoulstothetruth(cf.Jn.8:32).Asnoted
byPopeSt.JohnPaulII,adherencetoandprotectionofthetruthinannulment
casesexpressestruepastoralsensitivity.Thissensitivitymustbedirectedtoward
thetruth,nottowardgrantingthepartiesthefreedomtoremarry.Thisistrue
freedom:torecognizethetruthofonescircumstancesandchoosetoacceptthe
graceofthosecircumstances.Ifthatmeansonesmarriageisnull,thepartiesmay
remarryintheChurchbutifevidenceislacking,theymustgracefullyacceptthe
circumstanceandeitherreconcilewitheachotherorliveachastelife.Salvationof
soulsrequiresustodesireandpursuewhatistrue,nottocalltruewhatwedesire.
WhereDoWeGoFromHere?
Iamdeeplyconcernedabouthowmarriageandthefamilywillbeviewedand
promotedinthewakeofthesechanges.ThedisciplinesoftheChurchare
instructive,andIfearthatthesenewdisciplineswillencourageachangeinthe
perceptionoftheChurchsdoctrines.Whatisthesolution?Ibeseechyouto
contendearnestlyforthefaithoncedeliveredtothesaints(Jude3).Befaithfulto
thetruth.Befaithfulinyourmarriages.Donotbeconfused.Wemustreclaimthe
SacramentofHolyMatrimonyforwhatitistheprimordialsacrament,asPope
St.JohnPaulIIputit.Matrimonyistheonlysacramentthatexistedbeforesin,and
theonlyonethatwasnotgivenasaresultofsin.

DOSSIER:Marriage,Divorce,Annulments&theAssaultsonMarriage

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