Pope Fires Church Official for Selling Marriage Annulments
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iStock Editorial/Thinkstock(ROME) — Pope Francis has fired a corrupt church official who sold marriage annulments to divorced Catholic couples.
The pope said he dismissed a marriage annulment tribunal official in Argentina after he learned he was offering to expedite annulments for $10,000.
The issue of marriage annulment came up at the recent Vatican family on the synod. Because church doctrine dictates married and divorced Catholics cannot receive the sacraments, some reform-minded cardinals suggested it be made easier for Catholics to annul their marriage. That way, they could then take the sacraments.
Francis says streamlining annulments, which can take years and cost thousands, is a matter of justice.
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