Hi Anonymous,

Don't worry, that's not what it means at all.

It's simply a procedural item that will allow her to marry in the Catholic Church.

Since the Catholic Church does not permit divorce and remarriage, in order for someone who is civilly divorced to get married in the Church, she has to obtain a declaration that the original marriage was invalid i.e., that it had some fundamental defect that made it, despite all appearances, not a true sacramental marriage.

That's what an annulment is. It has no effect on whether you can see your children.

Eric Ewanco

Dear friend,

You should have no fear about the annulment. This has nothing to do with your legal ability to visit with your children, and is only about the sacramentality of your former marriage.

If the annulment is approved, the Catholic Church recognizes that there was some defect that blocked the marriage from sacramental validity, thereby freeing the spouses to marry again in the Church.

Technically, in the Catholic Church no one can divorce and remarry — the annulment is almost like saying you were never married — but of course, only in the sacramental or covenantal sense.

Your former wife is probably seeking to remarry and needs this to clear the way for a Church wedding.

Hope this clears things up.

Peace,

Bob Kirby