After announcing that it would be easier for women who have had abortions to receive absolution, a week later he now has announced changes to the annulment process in the Catholic Church. And an annulment, according to foryourmarriage.org’s fact sheet, is for a marriage if it falls short of one of the essential elements for a binding Catholic union. It is often sought by divorced couples, as the Church requires a divorced Catholic to obtain a declaration of nullity before re-marrying in the Church. According to the website, it can take 12 to 18 months, if not longer.
Pope Francis is changing that.
Pope Francis has made it quicker and simpler for married Catholics to obtain annulments http://t.co/v7n7j3edCi
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 8, 2015
Pope Francis on annulment reforms: Mercy demands that church be close to those who consider themselves separated. http://t.co/dYwXkj9dAY
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 8, 2015
The Pope just made it a lot easier for Catholics to end relationships and remarry http://t.co/VHM14sB1kD pic.twitter.com/DsLTRZBcUu
— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) September 8, 2015
Here are just some of the reactions to this new development:
Church, please don't overreact. The process of annulments isn't part of Divine Revelation. The Pope has leeway here. https://t.co/0b8ykezKqY
— Marcel LeJeune (@MarcelLeJeune) September 7, 2015
Pope Announces Sweeping Reforms To Annulments A 100 years too late…
— Screaming Butterfly (@ScreminButerfly) September 8, 2015
The pope's making it easier to get annulments. Having been through the process, I say Amen!… https://t.co/Luw2KwzkLg
— Susan Carlson (@SusanCarlson111) September 8, 2015
Pope Francis proposes emergency annulments to everyone married to Kim Davis. @absrdNEWS
— Chuck Groundhog (@only_si_chuck) September 7, 2015
