Annulments

Annulments: Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)

To begin with, it should be noted that the term "annulment" is not exact. To "annul" implies to dissolve or rescind something that had really existed. A civil contract can be annulled, but not the covenant of marriage. Once a true marriage has been entered on and a real marital bond created, it can only be dissolved by death.

Marriage, Annulment, and the Quest for Lasting Commitment (Catholic World Report, Jan. 1996, pp. 54-61)

            I have been asked to reply to an article written under the pseudonym of Polonaise in the last June issue of the Catholic World Report. Anonymous writings do not appeal to me, since I feel that each one should have the courage of his or her convictions. So, while Polonaise involves me in his animadversions, I would probably have let that pass, also because it is never pleasant or easy to answer a critic who has not understood the position he criticizes. But since he also misrepresents the teaching of the magisterium (partly by ignoring it), I think your readers are entitled to some comments which hopefully can clarify some important points.

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