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Marriage Tribunal
The last several weeks I had the privilege of speaking with three applicants who have sent annulment paperwork to our office.
All three are several months yet of having their cases reviewed by the Defender of the Bond (who defends the marriage) and then reviewed and adjudicated by the Grand Island Diocesan Tribunal Judge. I explained to each of them, after a case is judged null here in the Tribunal of First Instance, it will be sent to the Tribunal of Second Instance in Omaha where another Defender of the Bond and three more judges review the facts and testimony of the cases and either ratify (agree with) the decision of this Tribunal, or pronounce a negative decision.
I apologized that the process has taken quite awhile and one petitioner commented that anything worth having is worth waiting for, indicating that the process allows time for further reflection of the past and into the future.
I then asked each what they thought of the annulment process itself. All three applicants admitted they found healing in the process.
They felt that writing down the facts about the homes of origin, as well as the character, behavior, personality, and upbringing of each party, was instrumental in helping them understand why the marriage did not work.
The process allows one to step back and take another look at the misconception and lack of understanding concerning the nature and good of marriage, and the choices that were made by the principals.
While visiting with these applicants, I mentioned that the Tribunal is very much concerned with each and every applicant (petitioner) and ex-spouse (respondent). The goal is not only the review of the marriage, but for the future success of each principal's mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
It is very important that some counseling (as necessary) be sought by each principal to promote the healing process. If either principal seeks to marry again in the Catholic Church, it should be the goal of everyone concerned that the same misconceptions, mistakes, and behaviors do not occur in a subsequent marriage.