St. Mary Parish, Chelsea at 14200 E. Old US Highway 12, Chelsea, MI 48118 US - Questions and Answers about Marriage Cases in the Catholic Church

For in-depth information, please call the parish offices. WHAT IS A MARRIAGE? The Church's Code of Canon Law says of marriage: "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." Thus, the Church teaches that according to the law of God marriage is by its nature a permanent union. Therefore, the Church's law presumes the validity of a marriage unless the contrary is proven. WHAT IS THE TRIBUNAL? The Tribunal is a court established by the laws of the Church, which among its other judicial functions also rules on the validity or invalidity of marriages. The Tribunal of the Diocese of Lansing is under the direction of the Bishop of Lansing and is supervised by the Judicial Vicar. He, together with a staff of specially trained and experienced priests, religious and laay persons, offers assistance to persons who request that the church study a marriage in order to determine whether or not there is any possibility of a declaration of invalidity or dissolution. It seeks, in the words of Pope Pius XI, "to care for the dignity of marriage; to work for the good of persons." HOW DOES ONE BEGIN THE PROCESS? Contact your local parish office. A priest or trained pastoral minister will make an appointment to meet with you. He or she will then assist you in preparing the case and submitting it to the Tribunal. ARE THERE ANY CIVIL EFFECTS TO A CHURCH DECREE OF INVALIDITY? There are ABSOLUTELY NO CIVIL EFFECTS to a Church Decree of Invalidity in the United States. It does not affect in any manner the legitimacy of children, property/inheritance rights,names, etc. The Declaration of Invalidity clarifies the person's status before the Church with regard to marriage.

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