We care for the dignity of marriage and work for healing. We provide a forum for those with failed marriages to arrive at a better understanding of themselves and others.
A Christian marriage is a sacramental relationship in which a couple establishes a partnership for the entire life. It is a holy covenant of life and love, demanding a mature commitment and conscious decision to love from the partners – one that should not be entered into lightly. Sadly, the reality is that not all marriages succeed. People have entered marriages without sufficient readiness. Some other factors may also have existed which mar the commitment, resulting in breakdown and failure. Subsequently, divorce and remarriage may occur, excluding affected persons from full participation in the Church’s sacramental life.
Find out more about Catholic teaching regarding marriage from New Advent.
The Church presumes that every marriage is valid unless proven otherwise. If there has been a marriage of any kind (religious or civil) ended by a divorce, some Church process is required before a previously married person is recognized as free to marry in the Catholic Church. This applies even if the partners in the former marriage were not Catholic. The Church considers a marriage entered into by two non-Catholics, Christian or other, to be true marriages. Therefore, any previous marriage is an obstacle to a new marriage with a Catholic ceremony (Not every marriage needs the same kind of process. What is needed depends upon the unique circumstances of each marriage.).
The Marriage Tribunal ministry is one part of the Church’s effort to express the mercy of Christ by offering hope and healing for those who suffer the consequences of broken marriages. By investigating cases and causes of marital failure, the Tribunal attempts to determine whether a marriage in question was a true marital union according to the expectations and teachings of the Church and whether the parties are still bound to the vows that they made.