Papal praise for 2005 document on nullity cases

January 26, 2015

The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts’ 2005 document Dignitas Connubii remains a “modest but useful vademecum that really takes the ministers of the tribunals by the hand toward the implementation of a process that is both sure and expeditious,” Pope Francis told participants in a conference organized by the Pontifical Gregorian University.

“A sure process because it indicates and explains with clarity the goal of the process itself, namely moral certainty: this requires that any prudent, positive doubt of error be totally excluded, even if the mere possibility of the contrary is not excluded,” the Pope said in his January 24 remarks. “An expeditious process because-- as common experience teaches-- those who know well the road to travel, go more quickly.”

“The knowledge and, I would say, the use of this instruction can, even in the future, help ministers of the tribunals to shorten case proceedings, often perceived by spouses as long and wearisome,” he added. “Up until now, not all of the resources that this instruction makes available for an expeditious process, devoid of every formalism for its own sake, have been explored; nor can we exclude further legislative acts in the future aimed at the same end.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope speaks on 10th anniversary of Church instruction on nullity of marriage (Vatican Radio)
• Dignitas Connubii (2005)
• Udienza ai Partecipanti al Congresso Internazionale promosso dalla Facoltà di Diritto Canonico della Pontificia Università Gregoriana (Holy See Press Office)