[Biggirl]

Then why is there the practice of having anullments given in the Church?

[pgkdan]

An annulment is not a divorce. An anullment claims that the conditions for a sacramental marriage did not exist at the time of the marriage and therefor the marriage is nul. It never happened.

[Mrs. Don-o]

An annulment is the finding of a Church tribunal, after having examined documentary and testimentary evidence, that the first marriage was invalid. No valid bond from the git-go. Therefore while it might have been a civil marriage, it was not Sacramental and therefore not indissoluble.

That's why it's called an "annulment" and not a divorce. A valid, Sacramental marriage cannot be divorced.

As Jesus said, (Matthew 19:9) And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

The Greek word porneia used in this passage means unlawful sex; in this context it means "unless the first marriage was unlawful."