5.19. Isn’t an annulment just the Church declaring that a valid marriage never existed?
In traditional Catholic theology, an annulment is not a “Catholic divorce,” but a declaration of nullity—a juridical recognition that a true marriage never existed due to a defect at the time of consent, such as coercion, incapacity, or simulation. It is a rare and serious matter handled by validly constituted ecclesiastical tribunals under strict procedural norms to safeguard the indissolubility of marriage.
After Vatican II, however, the Novus Ordo sect has redefined and weaponized annulments, introducing psychological grounds, relaxed procedures, and streamlined tribunals that approve nullity in over 90% of cases. In practice, the Novus Ordo annulment system amounts to a Catholicized version of divorce, undermining the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage, as taught by Christ (Matt. 19:6) and solemnly defined by the Council of Trent. Below is a comparison table demonstrating the radical departure of Novus Ordo annulments from true Catholic teaching and practice.
| Category | Traditional Catholic Teaching & Process | Novus Ordo “Annulment” System | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | Declaration that **no valid marriage ever existed** due to defect in consent or canonical form | Perceived as a “Catholic divorce” to end a failed relationship | Misunderstanding annulments as an “escape clause” contradicts Christ’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage (Matt. 19:6) |
| Grounds | Serious canonical defects at the time of consent (e.g. coercion, fraud, insanity) | Psychological immaturity, “lack of openness,” incompatibility, vague intent | Post-Vatican II tribunals use subjective, non-canonical grounds that reflect secular psychology, not Catholic theology |
| Process | Handled by **ecclesiastical tribunal** under canon law with thorough investigation | Often fast-tracked, bureaucratic, or automatically granted with minimal review | Speed and automation undermine justice and discernment, mocking the sacrament and due process |
| Tribunal Composition | Validly ordained clergy and canonists under a true Catholic bishop | “Tribunals” under invalid bishops and canonists trained in modernist theology | Judgments rendered by invalid or non-Catholic authorities have no standing in the true Church |
| Burden of Proof | Marriage presumed valid; burden on petitioner to prove invalidity beyond doubt | Marriage presumed invalid if either party claims incapacity or regret | Inversion of canonical presumption; makes true marriage seem revocable at will |
| Appeals Process | Mandatory double decision; often appealed to the Roman Rota | Appeal process often waived; single decision may suffice | Weakens safeguards; increases pressure for a “yes” decision regardless of truth |
| Public Perception | Rare and exceptional; a grave matter of objective truth | Commonplace, expected after failed marriages | Publicly indistinguishable from divorce; scandalizes the faithful and weakens belief in marriage |
| Doctrine on Indissolubility | Marriage is **indissoluble** if validly contracted and consummated | In practice, many presume they can “remarry” after annulment like Protestants | Destroys belief in lifelong marriage; contradicts infallible dogma and Scripture |
| Contraception & Heresy | May render consent invalid if openly rejected as part of marriage intent | Ignored or accepted by tribunals, even if parties deny Catholic moral teachings | Those who reject procreation or fidelity have no valid intention; tribunals should deny annulments or declare invalidity immediately |
| Fruits | Upholding doctrine, respect for marriage, moral clarity | Widespread remarriage, confusion, normalization of “Catholic divorce” | “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16). The Novus Ordo practice destroys marriage culture |
| Validity | Valid tribunal decisions possible if true clergy and canonical grounds exist | Null, illicit, and non-binding under false Vatican II sect | Faithful Catholics must reject Novus Ordo annulments and submit only to true Church authority |
Summary:
The Catholic Church has always upheld the indissolubility of marriage, allowing annulments only when a true impediment to valid consent existed at the time of the wedding. However, the Novus Ordo sect, beginning after Vatican II, has hollowed out this discipline, turning annulments into Catholic-sounding divorces granted for emotional dissatisfaction, psychological excuses, or secular convenience.
Because Novus Ordo tribunals operate under invalid bishops, applying modernist, non-canonical principles, their decisions carry no authority in the true Church. Most of their “annulments” are illicit, invalid, and doctrinally impossible. As a result, Catholics who remarry under these false annulments commit public adultery unless their original marriage was truly null according to traditional Catholic criteria and confirmed by a valid tribunal.