It has seemed like all you have to do is pay enough money.
Former Congressman Joe Kennedy divorced his wife, Sheila Rauch Kennedy, in 1991. Several years later she learned that the Archdiocese of Boston had quietly granted him an annulment.
To her credit, Sheila -- an Episcopalian -- fought a battle through legitimate channels inside the hierarchy of the Church. The Roman Rota, which has oversight of the annulment process, has an appeal process that is open to both spouses in an annulment process. The Rota eventually upheld the validity and sanctity of the Kennedy marriage.
Not true. What you have to do is to say that, because of improper marriage preparation or immaturity, you did not UNDERSTAND the permanence of marriage, or did not understand its sacramental character, and therefore gave "simulated consent". Any marriage with defective consent is null, so, voila! You get your annulment, unless your situation threatens to cause a public scandal.
Almost anyone with enough time and money can make a Sheila Rauch Kennedy appeal to the Roman Rota, but annulments are usually a relief to both Catholic partners, and, when they are not, the aggrieved ex- usually lacks the knowledge or resources to appeal.
My wife has been trying for hers going on 7 years now. Believe me, she has a good case. It`s a long story but it involves her ex husband frequenting prostitutes, bank fraud ( in the millions of dollars ), and him going to federal prison for 8 years. She just found out last week about a $300,000 loan he forged her name on which apparently gave him $150,000 ( this was when they were still married, no clue on what he did with the money ). He was a city councilman ( Democrat of course ..) until the feds busted him, and too add, the local party was recruiting him to run for mayor too. LOL !!
My own personal experience has shown otherwise.
Can you spell “K-E-N-N-E-D-Y”?
The rules were just tightened up, under Pope Benedict I believe, with Rome seeing an influx of grants by the United States certainly, among the highest.
The appeal does involve fees, naturally. I don’t believe they are exorbitant for the staff and service provided. Canon lawyers, the office of Tribunes, administrative and investigative needs and expenses all entailed.