The process of ending a marriage recognized by the Catholic Church is distinct from a civil divorce. While a civil divorce legally dissolves a marriage in the eyes of the state, the Catholic Church views marriage as a sacrament intended to be a lifelong union. Therefore, obtaining a civil divorce does not automatically dissolve a marriage in the Church’s eyes. To be free to remarry within the Church, a formal process must be undertaken.
The Church’s stance on the permanence of marriage is rooted in its theological understanding of the sacrament. However, the Church recognizes that not all marriages are valid from the outset. The annulment process, formally known as a declaration of nullity, addresses situations where a marriage, despite outward appearances, lacked an essential element necessary for sacramental validity from its beginning. This process provides a path for individuals to potentially remarry within the Church.
