Vatican announces commission to streamline marriage process

Vatican City, Sep 20, 2014 / 23:09 pm

Pope Francis will establish a commission to review the matrimonial process in canon law with the goal of simplifying the procedure while maintaining the indissolubility of marriage, the Holy See Press Office announced Saturday.

According to Vatican Radio, the decision was made on Aug. 2 of this year and the commission will be chaired by Monsignor Pio Vito Pinto, dean of the Roman Rota.

"The work of the commission will start as soon as possible and will have as its goal to prepare a proposal of reform of the matrimonial process, with the objective of simplifying its procedure, making it more streamlined, and safeguarding the principle of the indissolubility of matrimony," read a Sept. 20 statement from the Vatican.

Members of the commission will include: Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Archbishop Luis rancisco Ladaria Ferrer, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Bishop Dimitri Salachas, Apostolic Exarch of the Greek Byzantine Catholic Church; Monsignors Maurice Monier, Leo Xavier Michael Arokiaraj and Alejandro W. Bunge, Prelate Auditors of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota;

Other members of the commission are: Father Nikolaus Schoch, Substitute Promotor of Justice of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura; Father  Konstanc Miroslav Adam, rector of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Father Jorge Horta Espinoza, dean of the Faculty of Canon Law of the Pontifical University Antoniamum; and Paolo Moneta, formerly professor of Canon Law at the University of Pisa.

The announcement was made as bishops prepare to convene at the Vatican next month to discuss modern challenges to marriage and family. Reflecting on the official theme "Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization," the Oct. 5-19 synod was called for by Pope Francis last year.