[Da Coyote]

They annulled Dead Ted’s marriage.

That ended my association with the church.

[Salvation]

You are always a Catholic if you were baptized a Catholic. You may be an inactive one. But something that happened to Ted Kennedy does not make you a non-Catholic.

Think about it, please.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

why is there a “fee” of several thousands for the annullment..Never understood that one.

[Mrs. Don-o]

IIRC, they annulled Ted's marriage on the grounds of fraud, namely, that he did not intend a lifelong and exclusively faithful marriage, and therefore his vow was just empty lying words, that is, a fraud. Fraud cannot be a part of a sacramental covenant.

You disagree?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh, and BTW that annulment was overturned upon appeal. Sheila K. eveidently testified that Ted could very well have been sincere and faithful "at that time," which means he made an honest --- and therefore binding --- vow.

I sure wouldn't want to be the canonical judge on that case, having to decide on what Ted K.'s intent was when he married. But the first Tribunal thought he was lying, which would be my hunch as well, considering his subsequent behavior.