Book on Annulments and Spiritual Healing

When going through the annulment process it is easy to get bogged down in the formalities and requirements of church law. They can be an offputting obstacle for you. However, the annulment process can be used to your personal advantage. You can use it to gain a greater understanding of yourself. When done correctly, the annulment process can be an emotionally and spiritually healing one.

To help you with that we highly recommend the book: "Catholic Annulment – Spiritual Healing" by Dennis and Kay Flowers. You can find it on Amazon.com under the title or authors names.

Spiritual hope after divorce…

Going through a divorce can have a negative effect on a person's spirituality. It is natural to judge yourself and to be concerned about the judgments of others. But perhaps you even worry about or fear God's judgment of you.

But that fear is misplaced. God's love for you is ever present. God is not disappointed in you. God does not think less of you. God does not reject you in any way because of a divorce. Rather, it is during difficult times such as divorce that God's love for you is ever present. God is holding on to you – try to feel the embrace!

A person's childhood affects their marriage ...

The family situation within which a person grew up can have a profound affect on their choice of a marriage partner, or, their decision to marry. For example, if you, or someone you know, grew up in an alcoholic home, you may find Janet Woititz's book, "Adult Children of Alcoholics" very enlightening.

What keeps you from applying for an annulment?

There are many reasons divorced men and women hesitate applying for an annulment. Perhaps, the process is too overwhelming; fear it will affect the legitimacy of children; a resistance to relive the painful experience of the divorce; no desire to have anything to do with the ex-spouse. Every one of these hesitations – and others – is understandable. What are your hesitations? Let us help!

If my ex gets an annulment does that mean I get an annulment too?

The answer is, Yes.
When an annulment is granted it affects both parties. The granting of an annulment means neither one of you is considered husband and wife in the Church. You both have the status of "single" in the Church. So you are both free to remarry.

How much does an annulment cost?

The cost for an annulment varies from diocese to diocese. In a few dioceses there is no cost. In most dioceses it is approximately $400-$600. In a few dioceses it can be as high as $1000. However, whatever a person applying for an annulment is asked to pay is only part of the overall cost to process their case. Every diocese throughout the United States subsidizes its tribunal for the majority of its costs. So every case is in fact subsidized by the Church.
No one in any diocese is turned away for an inability to pay.

You Are Not Alone ...

If you are applying for an annulment or going through the annulment process you can feel very much alone. Often annulment petitions can go into a tribunal and you hear nothing for months the time. You may wonder, is anyone else going through this experience?

You may be surprised to know that in 2008 [the most recent year for these records] there were approximately 20,000 annulment petitions initiated in the United States. Since every petition involves both parties – and normally 3 to 5 witnesses – that means that there were anywhere from 100,000 - 140,000 people interacting with tribunals across the country.

So if you are feeling isolated and "in the dark," know that there are many other people asking the church to consider the annulment of their marriage is well. You are not alone!