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Another good news post. The pope is cracking down on the Roman Rota, verbally at least. He is telling them that they need to be conscious of the "truth" when deciding annulment cases. This is revolutionary.

On the one hand, we can only be happy to see the pope sticking up for truth. But on the other hand, we must also wonder how we ever got to this point where even the Roman Rota asks with Pontius Pilate, "What is truth?" The pope admits that annulment cases are currently decided on an "instrumental" basis, meaning they do what they feel is for the good of the couple (grant the annulment) rather than examine whether the marriage is truly valid or not.

What about the people who questioned the validity of current annulments and were told to trust the "living magisterium"? Clearly these annulment cases were decided with no basis in actual fact. There must be tens of thousands of Catholics who are divorced and remarried today and who feel confident that they are justified by the piece of paper that tells them their first marriage has been annulled. Will they hear the same thing when they appear before God on judgement day?

Thank God that the pope is finally saying that "theological reference to truth is what should guide all those involved in such a process." Now will he say the same thing about other topics like the correct translation of "pro multis" --will theological truth apply in that case as well?

Catholics who are divorced and remarried today and who feel confident that they are justified by the piece of paper that tells them their first marriage has been annulled. Will they hear the same thing when they appear before God on judgement day?

The judgements of tribunals are fallible judgements. A Catholic who receives an erroneous annulment is absolved from culpability unless they themselves firmly believe their annulment to be erroneous, that they "put one over" on the tribunal. Otherwise, how could the couple be held responsible for the error of the tribunal if they're obeying duly appointed authorities and if it's impossible to know with a high degree of probability whether their annulment was valid?

Will they hear the same thing when they appear before God on judgement day?

Barring their lying dissumulation in the annulment process, no they will not. "Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth ...", He said, without qualification.

The Church has the power to declare non-marriages null and even to dissolve legitimate marriages in certain circumstances (i.e. Petrine Principle, Ecclesiastical Divorce, etc.).

There must be tens of thousands of Catholics who are divorced and remarried today and who feel confident that they are justified by the piece of paper that tells them their first marriage has been annulled. Will they hear the same thing when they appear before God on judgement day?

Yes. "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Sadly, and exempting clergy here, when this subject is brought up (fairly frequently) with members of the laity, annulment is viewed as something of a joke, a "Catholic divorce" which can be obtained by knowing the right people and purchased with the right amount of money. Until they get one, that is, and then annulment is viewed as perfectly legitimate and necessary.

Let's just hope and pray that the Church will place orthodox and honest priests in charge of marriage "formation" - pre-Cana - and that they will teach and counsel young men and women according to the mind of the Church.

The responsibility lies also with parents who should bring their children up knowing what marriage is and knowing what makes a good husband or wife. I can't tell you how many parents I know who have said about their children and/or grandchildren - "that marriage never should have taken place."