Annulment: Do You Have a Case?

Rating:
Summary: Good Starting Point, Technically and Pastorally
Review: This is the second edition of a very good book on Marriage Annulments in the Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, ten years after the latest Code of Canon Law of 1983, went into effect. If you are using this book to consider or take some sort of action in your personal life, go first to the small section in the first chapter entitled "The Tribunal as Pastoral Ministry." This sets the tone of this book, one that is both informational and pastoral. The author's examination of the types of questions a Tribunal will ask exhibit a good knowledge of the grounds the Church uses for examining an annulment case. He also uses some good forms that one might see during the annulment process. His discussion of witness forms is especially important. Witnesses are necessay to a case and they can sometimes be the deal breaker. The extremes are witnesses who try too hard to help you with their answers, to witnesses who tell you they sent their questionaire back, but it must have gotten lost in the mail. This part of the book gives a witness encouragemnet in the role and practical advice as well. The only fault I found with this book is two occasions of talking about a "failed marriage" and why a marriage "failed". I think such negative talk does not belong in today's world of no-fault divorce, let alone in the healing process of a Church annulment. In the next edition, and I hope there is one, that reference should be adjusted. Outside of that, this is a very good book.