The purpose of this information is to explain the process by which the Catholic Church makes a declaration of nullity, or what is commonly referred to as an annulment. This information is meant to assist those who want to request a declaration of nullity. It is also meant to be a resource for pastors and others in pastoral ministry.
The Nature of Marriage from the Perspective of the Catholic Faith
Marriage between a man and woman is the hallmark of a good social order and healthy community. As one of the Church's seven sacraments, the sacrament of marriage is precious to us, and a real symbol of God's love for humanity. These are two key reasons why it is so important to preserve the integrity of marriage. Marriage is a lifelong and faithful union of a man and a woman that is modeled after Christ's love for the Church. In this light, it is fundamentally concerned with the goodness arising from the spousal relationship, the growth and support of the love relationship, and its fruitfulness in bearing and educating children. Like God's love, marriage is creative and life giving. It invites us to come into contact with the presence and power of God.
Marriage is a personal choice within the context of a society. The Church holds that the right to marriage is a natural one and that God intended a man and a woman to be together in marriage since the beginning of creation. The right to marry does not concern itself with race, creed, social status, etc. Marriage also has a public face. As one of its building blocks, marriage contributes to a healthy society. For the good of this society, a person cannot do things like marry immediate family members. A person cannot consent to marry if he or she does not have the mental capacity to make a mature and intelligible decision. The Christian community contributes still one other value. We know from the teachings of the Christian scriptures, that once a person has validly married, a bond of marriage is created, one that is binding for the whole of life. The Church has preferred to talk about this bond as a covenant relationship.
As divorce rates indicate, many marriages do not fulfill the intended purpose of a lifelong union. The Church is sensitive to this problem and strives to be responsive to the needs of these individuals so that they may live good and productive lives in the Church and in society.
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