Why the Church is Granting More Annulments

Many people (Catholics and others) wonder, "How could a marriage go on for many years and still be invalid?" "While carefully protecting Jesus' teaching of the sacredness of marriage, the Church also is obliged to provide justice for anyone whose marriage has failed when it can be shown with moral certainty that the marriage lacked from its onset some essential element for a true sacramental bond," writes Keefe, a consultant to a diocesan marriage tribunal. Identifies several factors which can undermine the free consent needed for marriage. The annulment process can be "a great healing."