We must hope that Francis can assert his rule over the CBCP and the numerous lawyers who make a good living out of the anullment racket. But, looking at the state of the criminal justice system, I cannot be confident.
I'm with you on that one, we will just have to wait and see if there is a positive outcome. Surely the Catholic church will have to catch up with the rest of the world one day
But will it be in time for several friends who have had the misfortune to fall in love with a lady who finds that she is not free to marry because of a mistake that she made much earlier in her life?
I'm a fan of Pope Francis I'm not sure just how much difference it will actually make here in the Philippines It seems to be aimed more at keeping the process within local church control. One good thing is that it will now allow people to remarry and remain part of the church community (if they wish)
Here is the Grauniad's take on it: http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...s-catholic-churchs-marriage-annulment-process Here is the gist of it: Under the guidelines, a couple seeking an annulment will no longer require a second confirming decision for their marriage to be nullified after it has already been decided by a church tribunal. Instead, there was “sufficient moral certainty achieved” with a single decision, the panel said. In a case considered to be straightforward, the panel said some annulment decisions could be made directly by a local bishop. Francis urged bishops to create structures that would guide separated Catholics who were considering annulment or divorce. Among the reasons why a party could seek an annulment, the panel included the discovery that a person in the marriage was in an extramarital relationship at the time of the marriage, when a spouse procured an abortion, and when one party lacked religious faith.
The big difference for the Philippines is that there is no alternative. All others countries most likely choose civil divorce over annulment Nevertheless it's another small step in the right direction and will be welcomed in many countries
I am afraid, that it it has to happen in the Philippines, it will not be for good many years as the local church will fight tooth and nail to preserve any source of income. Let's face it, it doesn't come free... Or does it...???
Well it's supposed to now after Pope Francis has actually called for all church annulments to be free. He's also called for the whole process to be completed within 45 days and for the current mandatory appeal requirement to be scrapped. The new church process is meant to allow a local bishop himself to be the judge. Alternatively he can delegate handling of annulment cases to one priest-judge with the help of two assistants. So let's see how it all unravels in the Philippines. It's going to be difficult not to do it when the boss says do it.
