I need some help on how to start my anullment summary!! Do you start it like a book or what??? Help me time is ticking

-- Anissa Jones (raisin666@aol.com), November 12, 2001

Answers

Response to Anullment

To the top.

-- _ (_@_._), November 13, 2001.

Response to Anullment

Hello, Anissa.
I recommend that you ask your specific question (how to start/write your summary) of the kind of person who will be reading/studying it -- a canon lawyer on your diocesan marriage court (tribunal). Just call the chancery (bishop's offices) in your (arch)diocese and ask to be put in touch with the tribunal. You should be allowed to remain anonymous.

I'd like to share with you a couple of comments that were written by a tribunal judge (or "judicial vicar"), Msgr. Kevin Quirk:

"When it comes to preparing annulment cases, the more information you can give to the tribunal about your family background, your dating of your ex-spouse, and your courtship the better. Too often, the petitioner ... will spend a great deal of time explaining how and why the marriage broke down and whose fault it all was. While it may be cathartic (that is, bringing about a sense of relief through the sharing or unburdening), concentrating only on the marriage and its end is of little help to the Tribunal, whose duty is to consider whether the couple validly contracted marriage, not what happened in marriage. So, your family background may have a great deal to do with the case, especially if your parents are divorced. When did they divorce? How old were you? How did it affect you? How did their divorce affect your understanding of marriage? These kinds of questions should be on your mind as you complete the petition and questionnaire."

"After the evidence, including the testimony of both parties and the witnesses has been collected, a procedure called the publication of the acts will occur. At this time, the respondent (and his or her advocate) and the petitioner (and his or her advocate) will be given the opportunity to come to the Tribunal and review the materials collected. Either party has the right to propose new evidence, offer new testimony, or move to have a witness or piece of evidence removed, or take exception to any testimony given. The other party has the right to know of these actions as well. It is very rare that individuals will examine the acts, but it is important that this step takes place since it ensures the parties' right to self-defense and right to a good reputation."

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001.

Response to Anullment

John, My marriage was mentally and physically abusive. Yes my parents are divorced and have been divorced for quite sometime. I have all the information written down but now I need to actually start the summary. Do you start like a book or do you what? ex. once upon a time... Help

-- Anissa (raisin666@aol.com), November 13, 2001.

Response to Anullment

Anissa,
I'm surprised to see your question and plea again.
I did help you. I gave you suggestions of whom to contact for help and what kinds of things to include and exclude. I'm sure that men and women have written their summaries in many different ways. I doubt that there is a single way to start a summary.

If you are not willing to make phone call to the tribunal (as I suggested) to ask them how you should start, then you will have to do what seems most natural to you.
If I were doing the writing for you, the natural thing for me to do would be to state: "On such-and-such date, at so-and-so Church in blah-blah city, Mr. X and I, Anissa Jones, exchanged vows in an apparent celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage. The ceremony was witnessed by Father Y (or Deacon Z). Today I do not believe that our union was a valid, sacramental marriage." Then you could begin the narration of events, from the day you first met the man, up to and including everything that happened on the wedding day. I'm sure that you have other things that you intend to add (about your parents, etc.).

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001.

Response to Anullment

i dont have an answer, i have a question maybe u could help me with it? i have been married for 7 months and its been like hell we are seperated for 2 months and the day we got married he didnt take to no honeymoon he told me he had to go on a buisness trip well a month later i found out it wasnt a buisness trip he took hes girlfriend out for that whole week? and hes still seeing her when i found out he didnt deney it he told me the truth but it kept on going and going so once i followed him he seen me and hit that wasnt the first time but he did go to jail for it but know he said hes not going to divorse me hes going to keep me hanging i want to know how do i get an anullment

-- Faye Husein (fadiahusein@media.com), January 06, 2002.

Response to Anullment

Hello, Faye.
I am very sad to read about your sufferings.
Please go and visit your Catholic pastor to tell him exactly what you have told us. He will help you from that point onward.
God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), January 06, 2002.