VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
The Pope pointed out that some processes are too “long and weighty” for ordinary people and warned against the Church annulment process being treated like a business. He also told the story of someone he knew who sold court sentences
IACOPO SCARAMUZZI
VATICAN CITY
In a meeting held with participants of a course offered by the Tribunal of the Roman Rota before the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Francis spoke out against business-like court processes and public scandals. He also told a story about an exchange he had with someone who sold court sentences, when he was still Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Francis repeated a proposal presented during the course of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family held this October: that is to make annulment processes free of charge. Francis advised “streamlining procedures in the interest of Justice” because some processes are “so long and so weighty” that they discourage ordinary people.
The Pope reminded course participants that he created a commission to look into simplifying marriage annulments and appointed the Dean of the Roman Rota, Pio Vinto Pinto – present at today’s Audience – as its head.
“I have not prepared a speech, I just wanted to greet you,” Francis said in an off-the-cuff address to the 300 participants attending a course on “Instructing a Case for the Dispensation of a Marriage ‘Super rato et non consumato’”. “In the Extraordinary Synod [on the Family], There was talk about procedures, processes, and there was a preoccupation for streamlining the procedures, in the interest of Justice,” the Pope said. “Justice: For decisions must be just, and because there must be justice for the people who are waiting.” Some processes are “so long and so weighty” that people become “discouraged” and leave.” “For this reason, even before the Synod, I set up a commission to help prepare various paths in this area, a path of justice, and one of charity, because there are so many people who need a word from the Church about their marriage situation – be it a yes or a no – as long as it is just.” “But it must rule and tell them, so that it is possible to go forward without this doubt, this darkness in the soul.”
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