To enter into the sacrament of matrimony under Catholic Law, one has be baptized Christian. If this is the case for both parties, than there is a valid marriage which cannot be dissolved.
The pre-requisites for a couple to actually validly confer the sacrament on each other is a bit hefty. They have to have been in a state of sound judgment and knowledge of what they are intending when celebrating the rite. They must be entering into marriage in honesty. The rite also has to be presided by a deacon or Priest. It has to be witnessed by another party. They may not be coerced into marriage in any way as well.
However, if a couple fulfilled these requirements than there is an unbreakable bond that is established, it is the Sacramental bond.
This is why Annulment cases can be very important and difficult. Despite the hefty requirements, the laws presumption is that a sacrament has happened. So you have to prove in one way why it didn’t, which can get into psychological and or competency issues.
It has the potential to be very messy, and takes a long time.
“To enter into the sacrament of matrimony under Catholic Law, one has be baptized Christian. If this is the case for both parties, than there is a valid marriage which cannot be dissolved.”
Actually you are incorrect in this. The church recognizes the marriage even if one party has not been baptized and even if the marriage was not in the church.
“To enter into the sacrament of matrimony under Catholic Law, one has be baptized Christian. If this is the case for both parties, than there is a valid marriage which cannot be dissolved.
The pre-requisites for a couple to actually validly confer the sacrament on each other is a bit hefty. They have to have been in a state of sound judgment and knowledge of what they are intending when celebrating the rite. They must be entering into marriage in honesty. The rite also has to be presided by a deacon or Priest. It has to be witnessed by another party. They may not be coerced into marriage in any way as well.
However, if a couple fulfilled these requirements than there is an unbreakable bond that is established, it is the Sacramental bond. This is why Annulment cases can be very important and difficult. Despite the hefty requirements, the laws presumption is that a sacrament has happened. So you have to prove in one way why it didn’t, which can get into psychological and or competency issues. It has the potential to be very messy, and takes a long time.”
An annulment doesn’t devolve a marriage, it merely resolves that there was none to begin with. And you don’t have to “prove” anything as long as it doesn’t put the burden on your spouse.
For instance: If you were pressured to get married because your girlfriend was pregnant, only you can answer that. No proof could be available. However, if your reason was that she married you because of pregnancy, they may want to ask her about that.