This weekend the Pope gave a speech to a group of canon lawyers attending a course on Rotal practice. He took the opportunity to speak about the reforms he has made to the process for examining marriage nullity cases. He framed the talk within the context of the recent Synods on the family which “had the purpose of promoting and defending the Christian family and marriage for the greater good of spouses faithful to the covenant celebrated in Christ,” media spin notwithstanding. When speaking about marriage on such occasions, the Pope is known for sometimes straying off script and making impromptu remarks; while wonderful for giving us an insight into how the Pope feels about a particular subject, the spontaneity can be legally inexact. This was not the case on Saturday, however.
2:17 PM
The Pope is right: bishops must be at the centre of the annulments process
Pope Francis is serious about delivering speedy and judicially credible decisions for couples seeking annulments
Ed Condon

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