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The Catholic Church holds that a marriage entered into by competent parties with informed and free consent and proper form creates a bond between the parties that is life long and exclusive. Such a marriage strengthens the couple to meet their obligations to family and each other for the good of both and the procreation and education of children.
It is a recognized fact that relationships can fail and divorce of married couples is a reality.
The St. Peter Annulment Pastoral Care Ministry provides assistance to those individuals who have experienced failure in their married life. Working in close proximity with the parish Divorce Pastoral Care Ministry, the Family Life Office, and the clergy, this ministry serves the laity with advice, prayer, clerical and administrative support so that they can understand the method, possibilities, process and effects of the Church’s teaching on annulments.
Individuals seeking a declaration of nullity from a broken marriage are encouraged to call the church office, 985.892.2422, to set up an appointment to review the Archdiocesan guidelines for submittal of a case to the Metropolitan Tribunal.
A declaration of annulment by competent Church authority does not deny that a relationship existed and in some respects may still exist between a couple. It does not deny that children born of the union are blessings from God and that their relationships with their individual parents continue and are necessary for their welfare and development. Rather, a declaration of nullity by a Church court is a statement that the relationship fell short of at least one of the elements considered essential for a sacramental union.