The U.S. accounts for half of all annulments granted, though American Catholics are just 6 percent of the global Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Francis announced in September revisions to the Roman Catholic Church’s marriage annulment process. The new rules eliminate an automatic review of any “decree of nullity” by a second panel of church judges and provide for what is being called a “fast track” option that allows an annulment to be granted by the local bishop within 45 days if both spouses don’t oppose it. Annulment rulings can currently take up to a year or more and cost up to $1,000, though in the U. S. fees can be waived. Although the Roman Catholic Church doesn’t allow divorce, it has long recognized annulment when a marriage thought to be valid according to church law fell short of at least one of the essential elements required for a binding union.
