THE GLOBE
PO BOX 5079 (51102)
1825 JACKSON ST.
SIOUX CITY, IA (51105)
712.255.2550
800.352.9035
WWW.CATHOLICGLOBE.ORG

Three upcoming annulment workshops
to answer questions, ease fears of process

Catholic Globe report

For those who haven’t gone through an annulment either personally or secondhand via a close friend or relative, the process just might seem a little daunting.

How long does it usually take?

What is the role of witnesses in the process?

What are the most common grounds for annulments?

Through a series of three annulment workshops, Father Michael Erpelding hopes to not only answer those types of questions but wants to convey the message that the marriage tribunal is more than just a court, it’s a ministry.

All three of the annulment workshops will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will last about two hours. The dates and locations of the workshops are:

March 1 – St. Boniface Church in the St. Francis Room, Sioux City

April 26 – St. John Church, Onawa

May 24 – Sacred Heart Church, Boone

According to Father Erpelding, Adjutant Judicial Vicar and judge, this is the fourth year for the workshops.

The priest pointed that each year he has held one of the sessions in Sioux City and then rotates two additional sites throughout the diocese.

These workshops/meetings began at the request of the Office of Adult and Family Ministries.

They are designed for people to learn up front about some of the requirements and what will happen so they can have a sense of ease about entering into the process.

At the workshops, Father Erpelding will deliver a presentation to explain how the process works and the role of the tribunal. For instance, he will explain that the tribunal “searches for the truth” in order to determine if the marriage was valid.

While the tribunal is a court that will make a judgment relating to the validity of the marriage, Father Erpelding said he sees it more as a ministry rather than just a court because in the process of “discovering the truth,” there is often healing.

In cases where a marriage is found not to be valid, he explained that they minister to people as they “move on to the next stage of their lives. Possibly they can return to receiving the Eucharist and are now able enter into a valid marriage.”

Even if the tribunal finds the marriage is valid, Father Erpelding said pastors can work with the parishioners and help them to live a life within the church.

“The tribunal ministry tries to respect the vows that were made during the sacrament of matrimony but also respect the reality of people’s lives when they enter into the sacrament,” he said.

Besides answering questions for those who haven’t started in the process, for those going through it right now, Father Erpelding added, it provides an opportunity for them to put a face with a name from the Tribunal that they may have only seen in letters.

Anyone seeking more information about annulments is welcome to attend the workshops.

“We’ve had people come to this to learn more about the process and they have no need for an annulment – they are Catholics who want to understand what their church does,” Father Erpelding said. “Some people who may not need this ministry for themselves are still interested in understanding the compassion of the church to reach out to people who find themselves in difficult circumstances.”

Others have attended the workshops to seek information so they can advise others – such as parents obtaining information for their children.

Father Erpelding said following a presentation, he will stay as long as possible to answer questions and if there is a need, will follow-up with phone calls or meetings with individuals.

There is no fee to attend the workshop.

Definitions

Annulment: A decree issued by an appropriate church authority or tribunal that an essclesiastical act or sacrament is invalid and therefore lacking in all legal or canonical consequences.

Tribunals: The courts of the church established to decide cases of dispute in matters of Canon Law. Tribunals are to be established in every diocese.
(From Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Dictionary)

What are some common grounds for annulments?
Addictions, mental illness or excessive immaturity at the time of the sacrament of matrimony are a few examples of what may provide grounds for an annulment.

How long does the annulment process take?
In the Diocese of Sioux City it takes anywhere from 8 to 18 months, depending on the circumstances.