Difference between civil divorce and annulment?

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Could you please explain to me the difference bertween a civil divorce and an annulment? Also waht does the Catholic church determine to be a valid sacramental marriage?

-- Lana Schorer (lanz_is@hotmail.com.au), May 26, 2003

Answers

Response to Differnce between civil divorce and annulment?

A divorce is a civil action which dissolves a civil bond between two people. It does not involve the Church in any way.

Annulment is a determination by the Church that a valid sacramental union never existed, due to a serious impediment existing at the time of the wedding ceremony. It does not involve the civil courts in any way. It is not an action as such, just a determination, and does not dissolve anything, since a valid sacramental marriage cannot be dissolved in any way except the death of one of the spouses.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), May 26, 2003.


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