Pope calls for quick, correct and efficient settlement of marriage annulment cases

(04 February, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday appealed to ecclesiastical tribunals to dispense justice quickly and efficiently with regard to marriage annulment cases, without sacrificing correctness. The Pope made the exhortation to the members of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, which is the supreme court of the Catholic Church. The Roman Rota instead is the ordinary court of appeal for cases referred to the Holy See, especially with regard to marriage annulment cases. The Catholic Church does not recognize divorce for Catholics, only annulments, and does so only under specific circumstances, such as when a husband or wife refuses to have children or if a spouse was found psychologically incapable of contracting a valid marriage. Citing his post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation ‘Sacramentum Caritatis”, Pope Benedict said that when legitimate doubts exist about the validity of the prior sacramental marriage, necessary investigation must be carried out to establish if these are well-founded. Therefore the need to ensure, in full respect for canon law, the presence of local ecclesiastical tribunals and their pastoral character and correct and prompt action. The Pope, who himself is the supreme ecclesiastical judge of the Catholic Church, urged there be sufficient number of personnel trained for an efficient functioning of ecclesiastical tribunals. According to the Pope, bringing the Church’s institutional activity through her tribunals ever closer to the people is a serious duty. It is the task of the Apostolic Signatura to ensure that there be ecclesiastical tribunals in every territory and that their ministry satisfies the legitimate demands of the faithful for a speedy and simple settlement f their marriage annulment cases.