Pope Francis Announces Radical Changes to Annulment Process
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VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images(ROME) — Pope Francis announced radical new changes on Tuesday that will make it a lot easier for divorced Catholics to remarry in their church.
For centuries, the Catholic church has made getting marriages annulled long, complicated and costly. It considers marriage forever and does not recognize divorce.
But now, annulments will be free of charge and faster, with decisions needing the approval of just one instead of two tribunals. If both spouses want a marriage annulled, bishops can now grant it directly.
Without an annulment, Catholics who divorce and marry again are considered adulterers and are banned from receiving their church’s sacraments.
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