History of Decrees of Nullity

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Does anyone know when and how formal decrees of nullity began in the Catholic Church? I have done as an exhaustive search as i know how and have come up with nothing. I am interested in more fully grasping the church's teachings on marriage/anullment. Please let me know if you have any information on this. Thanks! God Bless.

-- Esperanza (dontwantspam@yahoo.com), July 23, 2003

Answers

Esperanza,

I am not familiar with the history; however, I am too quite interested.

If you find any information elsewhere please post it here.

Thanks.

God Bless.

Daniel

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), July 24, 2003.


-I am just beginning to research this issue (my curiousity)

I am sure I will be corrected by those more knowledgable (I hope)... To get things rolling and to allow painting of the complete picture TRUTH I will post something -- this thread provides the canvas -- I brush on the first dab of paint...

From my initial research it appears that the beginning of defining a process to judge validity and declare validity or invalidity required FIRST defining just what validity entails...

The goal was objectively/legally defining validity NOT invalidity... HOWEVER, defining one -defines the other by default -with the caveat that anything undefined of course must presume validity...

The reason for defining validity was NOT so that faithful could pursue annulment IT was more the Catholic Church asserting itself to stem the growing trends of divorce, adultery etc that were probably a result of both culture and protestant influence. The Church wanted to give clear guidance to the faithful AND counter the untruth 'officially' espoused by secular and or protestant government/authority...

hmmm...

So -this all began with good intent promulgated through The Council of Trent -more specifically with definition of terms and establisment of requirements such as registration of marriages and births in a book, requirements for witnesses etc. etc. ALL this to keep the sacrament a sacrament and clearly define truth for the faithful...

First the Laws -then the Lawyers -then the Legal actions -then Truth, Lies, Loopholes, Justice & Injustice -humanity divinely inspired inately flawed and tinkering...

In my opinion this was the beginning of it all... --By our very nature as we are all flawed and less than God our definitions are inately flawed though I am sure the best we can do to come close to definitions of the holy sacrament of marriage, a mysterious beautiful covenant between God, Man & Woman...

Again, in my opinion -definition sometimes lessens because definition sometimes can not do justice but can only come close... Additionally, debate is only possible to that which is 'defined' rather than accepted on faith...

Daniel

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), July 24, 2003.


Daniel, Thank you for your response. The thoughts/information you provide is a much better beginning than anything I have come up with. . . . (which is nothing:)) Let us continue to post new info here concerning this issue. May the Lord help us to learn and see truth clearly. Esperanza

-- Esperanza (dontwantspam@yahoo.com), July 24, 2003.

Esperanza, I suggest you talk to your local tribunal officials, I'm sure they can help you and direct you in the right direction. Many diocesan tribunals in the US have excellent sections regarding your question. I suggest you look into some of them.

-- carlos (cvenlazalde@yahoo.com), July 31, 2003.

-just bumping this up in case any may add to it...

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), September 26, 2003.


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