Marriage may sometimes require the stamina of a saint and, perhaps, this priest understands that.
“According to Archbishop-emeritus Oscar Cruz, the Catholic Church receives an average of 100 cases a year of couples who want to nullify their marriages,” reports ABS-CBNnews.com.
In a dzMM interview, Cruz revealed, “Sometimes, it’s more, sometimes less. It’s not permanent. Usually about 100 cases a year,” Cruz, a member of the church’s tribunal of appeals, said.
The report noted: “Pope Francis has ordered a review aimed at simplifying the Church’s procedures for annulments, a move that could make it easier for Catholics to end marriages.”
The report also explained that “nullity of marriage” is different from annulment of marriage, which is decided upon by a judicial court.
Cruz pointed out that “petitions for nullity of marriages must be approved by both the Church tribunal of first instance and tribunal of appeals.”
Then, Cruz added, “if both tribunals agree, then the petition for nullity of marriage is immediately granted.” He said “the case is only referred to the Vatican if the two tribunals do not agree with the petition.”
Cruz went as far as to say that “the process of nullifying marriages is easy as long as all documents and witnesses are present.”
“If all the witnesses are present and give their testimonies, it may even be done in one day,” Cruz said.
However, when the cases reach the Vatican, the process takes much longer. In this case, Cruz said, “If you only wait for three years, then that’s already fast.”
Screengrab from an ANC video
