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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
marriage	Simone	Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Question: Have been living with my husband strictly as roommates for 15 years. The thought of another 20-30 years fills me with dispair. There is absolutely no connection for me in this relationship. I felt that I was guilted into the marirage. I can't retrieve feelings I've never had. What do I do? There are children, but all are older. Would it be divorce or annulement?
Question Answered by Dear Simone: You could offer it up as mortification, which has great spiritual value. Or, if you divorce you can petition the Church for a Nullity of Marriage (annulment). If you felt guilted into the marriage, and conjugal relations have been deprived, you may have grounds for an annulment, but there are no guarantees. If you divorce and then apply for an annulment and the annulment is denied, then you are still married in the eyes of God and the Church. That means that you cannot marry anyone else. You need to talk to your parish priest about this, or the Marriage Tribunal at your Diocese. They can advise you according to your specific circumstances as to whether or not you have a good case for annulment. It does sound like you may have grounds on a defect of consent, but I do not know the details. Those who handle annulments in your diocese will be able to evaluate your situation and give you advice. Pray about it. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

marriage

Simone

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Question:

Have been living with my husband strictly as roommates for 15 years. The thought of another 20-30 years fills me with dispair. There is absolutely no connection for me in this relationship. I felt that I was guilted into the marirage. I can't retrieve feelings I've never had. What do I do? There are children, but all are older. Would it be divorce or annulement?

Question Answered by

Dear Simone:

You could offer it up as mortification, which has great spiritual value. Or, if you divorce you can petition the Church for a Nullity of Marriage (annulment).

If you felt guilted into the marriage, and conjugal relations have been deprived, you may have grounds for an annulment, but there are no guarantees. If you divorce and then apply for an annulment and the annulment is denied, then you are still married in the eyes of God and the Church. That means that you cannot marry anyone else.

You need to talk to your parish priest about this, or the Marriage Tribunal at your Diocese. They can advise you according to your specific circumstances as to whether or not you have a good case for annulment.

It does sound like you may have grounds on a defect of consent, but I do not know the details. Those who handle annulments in your diocese will be able to evaluate your situation and give you advice.

Pray about it.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum