Pope Leo XIV recently told participants in a juridical-pastoral formation course of the Roman Rota that the process of matrimonial annulments is not just a “means aimed solely at obtaining the free status of persons.” Rather, this sacred power by the ecclesiastical tribunal must first be exercised “in the service of truth.” “Every faithful person, every family, every community,” Leo said, “needs truth about their ecclesial situation in order to walk well the path of faith and charity. The truth about personal and community rights is situated in this context: the juridical truth declared in ecclesiastical processes is an aspect of existential truth within the Church.” Otherwise, the process ends up operating “on the basis of a misunderstood compassion . . . but human judgment on the nullity of marriage cannot however be manipulated by false mercy.”
Read the full article at First Things.